THE RELATIONSHIP OF PARENTING TO INDICATORS OF WELL-BEING

Cilj ovoga istraživanja bio je istražiti razlike u dobrobiti pojedinaca s obzirom na njihov roditeljski status. Nekonzistentni nalazi u dosadašnjim istraživanjima, ukazuju na potrebu za daljnjim istraživanjem razlika u indikatorima dobrobiti između osoba s i bez djece. Stoga se ovim istraživanjem, nastojalo utvrditi navedene razlike, koristeći pritom više indikatora dobrobiti, a s obzirom na dob i spol sudionika. U konačnici, zanimalo nas je ustvrditi možemo li i u kojoj mjeri zadovoljstvo životom kod osoba s djecom, u odnosu na one bez djece, objasniti socio-demografskim karakteristikama i zadovoljstvom specifičnim domenama života. Istraživanje je provedeno online u sklopu Hrvatskog longitudinalnog istraživanja dobrobiti (CRO-WELL), a korišteni su podaci iz drugog vala. Uzorak osoba s djecom (N=1294) bio je statistički starije dobi, više ih je bilo u braku/vezi, zaposleno i s nižima primanjima po članu obitelji u odnosu na uzorak osoba bez djece (N=1458). U oba poduzorka bila je veća zastupljenost žena, a nisu se razlikovali po stupnju obrazovanja. Rezultati su pokazali da osobe s djecom izražavaju više zadovoljstvo životom, sreću i procvat te su doživjele manje negativnih emocija u odnosu na osobe bez djece. U pogledu zadovoljstva specifičnim aspektima života, osobe s djecom su manje zadovoljne postignućem, pripadnošću zajednici, slobodnim vremenom i fizičkim izgledom, a više s obitelji, poslom i ljubavnim životom u odnosu na osobe bez djece. Spol i dob sudionika ostvaruje značajan interakcijski efekt s roditeljstvom na zadovoljstvo pojedinim životnim domenama. Naknadne analize pokazale su da su mlađi roditelji najmanje zadovoljni slobodnim vremenom, ali su zadovoljniji pripadnošću zajednici u odnosu na starije roditelje, dok su pripadnošću zajednici najmanje zadovoljne starije osobe bez djece. Muškarci bez djece su najmanje od svih ostalih grupa zadovoljni ljubavnim životom, a manje su zadovoljni pripadnošću zajednici u odnosu na žene. Očevi su, u odnosu na ostale grupe, zadovoljniji fizičkim izgledom, dok su žene bez djece zadovoljnije prijateljima u odnosu na muškarce. Provedene regresijske analize, pokazale su značajan i sličan doprinos uvrštenih prediktora općem zadovoljstvu životom i kod osoba s djecom i kod osoba bez djece. Doprinos sociodemografskih karakteristika u prvom koraku analize objasnio je tek malen dio varijance zadovoljstva životom (7% - 10%), no uvođenjem zadovoljstva specifičnim aspektima života objašnjeno je ukupno 62% varijance zadovoljstva životom na uzorku osoba s djecom i 61% na uzorku osoba bez djece. U oba uzorka, viša razina zadovoljstva životom mogla se predvidjeti višim razinama zadovoljstva životnim standardom, postignućem, sigurnošću i ljubavnim životom. U uzorku osoba s djecom, značajnim prediktorima pokazali su se i zadovoljstvo sigurnošću u budućnost i poslom, a u uzorku osoba bez djece zadovoljstvo pripadnošću zajednici.This study aimed to compare well-being of parents and childless individuals. Available literature shows inconsistency in results, indicating a need to further investigate possible differences between people who do or do not have children. This research aimed to explore these differences, by using various indicators of well-being, considering age and sex of participants. Finally, we were interested to explore the amount of variance of life satisfaction, can be explained by socio- demographic characteristics and satisfaction with specific life domains, and are there differences between participants who do or do not have children. For the purpose of this study, we used online gathered data from the second wave of Croatian longitudinal study on well-being. The sample of participants who had children (N= 1294) was older, more often in relationship or marriage and employed but with lower income per family member when compared to sample of childless participants (N=1458). In both samples, majority were women and participants did not differ regarding education level. Results showed that participants with children were more satisfied with life, happier and had flourished more, but experienced less negative affect compared to their counterparts. Gender and age showed significant interaction effect with parenthood on satisfaction with specific life domains. Post hoc analyses revealed younger parents as least satisfied with free time, but more satisfied with community connectedness compared to older parents, while lowest satisfaction with community connectedness was in the group of older childless participants. Men without children were least satisfied with love life compared to all other groups, and less satisfied with community connectedness compared to women. Fathers were more satisfied with physical appearance compared to all other groups, while women without children were more satisfied with friends compared to men. Regression analyses revealed that various predictors explain life satisfaction significantly and in similar amount for both groups of participants. Results of regression analyses, using socio-demographic characteristics and satisfaction with specific domains as pre61% in group of childless participants. In both groups, those who were more satisfied with life standard, achievement, safety and love life, were also more satisfied with life in general. In the group of parents, above already mentioned, life satisfaction was also predicted by satisfaction with future security and work, while in the childless sample satisfaction with community connectedness