Slow Steps Towards Dual Earner/ Dual Carer Family Model: Why Fathers do not Take Parental Leave

"The article looks at the transition of Estonian society towards dual earner/ dual carer family model and focuses on fathers' decision regarding taking their parental leave. Based on theory of planned behaviour by Ajzen, data from 20 qualitative interviews with fathers of small children are analysed to explore the beliefs fathers have when it comes to parental leave. The analysis distinguishes between two images of 'good parenting' that play a role in the fathers' intention to take parental leave. First, there is an image of an outcome-oriented 'project manager' affected by failure anxiety, and second, there is a much more relaxed image of a 'good parent' as a 'companion' who values everyday contact and a close relationship with the child(ren)." (author's abstract

Informal Support Networks in a Changing Society - are Family-Based Networks Being 'Crowded out'?

"Using data from two nationally representative surveys (Estonian Living Conditions survey 1994, n=4,455; Estonian Social Survey 2004, n=8,906), we assess whether informal support networks have changed during the ten year period in Estonia. We hypothesize that during this period due to the establishment of a new welfare system and an overall increase in living standards, on one hand, and diversification of family forms and increased geographic mobility of the population on the other, family support networks have lost their functionality. Our findings show that informal support has decreased between relatives, while mutual helping activities with non-relatives – neighbours, colleagues and friends – have remained almost at the same level. We suggest that the developments in the Estonian society are ‘crowding out’ the instrumental support exchange in the kinship system and empowering social networking with nonrelatives." (author's abstract

SATISFACTION WITH SERVICE AND SELF-ESTIMATED PHYSICAL FITNESS OF CONSCRIPTS

Problems with health and, successively, physical fitness are some of the main reasons for discharging a conscript, and health related issues are the number one reason for attrition. However, questions such as how an athletic physique benefits military service, how a change in physical abilities affects a person’s satisfaction with conscription, and to what extent the interrelation between an athletic physique, changes in physical fitness and satisfaction with conscription depends on the im mediate social service environment and social group of a person, these have received less attention. Analysing these questions revealed that people who were leading a more athletic lifestyle before conscription tend to be more satisfied with conscription in retrospect, but a more important factor for the formation of satisfaction appears to be perceived changes in one’s physical abilities during conscription, i.e. changes in self estimated physical fitness. It was also revealed that the strength of this con nection depended on the cohesion of the service environment: if a person’s physical abilities improve during conscription then stronger cohesion amplifies satisfaction, whereas a coherent environment can also impede the loss of satisfaction when a per son’s physical abilities are reduced. The authors of this article included four different types of cohesion in the analysis according to data collected with complex surveys over three conscription periods: 2017/2018, 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 (N=5,290)

OBJECTIFIED CULTURAL CAPITAL AND MILITARY SERVICE READINESS AMONG RESERVISTS OF THE ESTONIAN DEFENCE FORCES

One of the primary objectives of mandatory conscript service is the generation and accumulation of positive cultural and social capital that would foster the service readiness of soldiers assigned to the reserve force. This study draws on Pierre Bourdieu’s concept of “objectified cultural capital” to highlight the role of military mementos and artefacts in fostering service readiness among reservists. The generation and accumulation of objectified cultural capital that is also positively related to other forms of capital and factors is one way of creating a solid foundation for long-lasting elements that make up a reservist’s military habitus. This study focuses on what types of military mementos are most effective for this purpose, and also how this objectified cultural capital is related to other forms of cultural capital (i.e., embodied cultural capital, and institutionalized cultural capital) acquired in the military field. The analysis is based on survey data collected from 1,248 reservists of the Estonian Defence Forces (EDF) during the 2019 military exercise Spring Storm. Based on our findings, the authors put forward a model for measuring the service readiness of reservists that aims to explain the interrelationships and impact of different types of cultural capital, while also factoring in the effect of prior personal experiences from military service. The results of this study indicate that the most influential military mementos that promote service readiness among reservists are personal photos and videos about interesting and exiting events, situations or activities. However, this type of objectified cultural capital seems to derive its positive effect from assemblage and interaction with other forms of cultural as well as social capital. Ultimately, our findings indicate that the strongest motivator affecting the service readiness of reservists is their satisfaction with the most recent military exercise, and that, in turn, depends on positive experiences related to unit cohesion and feelings of professionalism, supported by practical skills acquired in the course of military service

Slow Steps Towards Dual Earner/Dual Carer Family Model: Why Fathers do not Take Parental Leave

The article looks at the transition of Estonian society towards dual earner/dual carer family model and focuses on fathers’ decision regarding taking their parental leave. Based on theory of planned behaviour by Ajzen, data from 20 qualitative interviews with fathers of small children are analysed to explore the beliefs fathers have when it comes to parental leave. The analysis distinguishes between two images of ‘good parenting’ that play a role in the fathers’ intention to take parental leave. First, there is an image of an outcome-oriented ‘project manager’ aff ected by failure anxiety, and second, there is a much more relaxed image of a ‘good parent’ as a ‘companion’ who values everyday contact and a close relationship with the child(ren)

Informal Support Networks in a Changing Society – are FamilyBased Networks Being ‘Crowded out’?

Using data from two nationally representative surveys (Estonian Living Conditions survey 1994, n=4,455; Estonian Social Survey 2004, n=8,906), we assess whether informal support networks have changed during the ten year period in Estonia. We hypothesize that during this period due to the establishment of a new welfare system and an overall increase in living standards, on one hand, and diversification of family forms and increased geographic mobility of the population on the other, family support networks have lost their functionality. Our findings show that informal support has decreased between relatives, while mutual helping activities with non-relatives – neighbours, colleagues and friends – have remained almost at the same level. We suggest that the developments in the Estonian society are ‘crowding out’ the instrumental support exchange in the kinship system and empowering social networking with nonrelatives

Poliitikaülevaade 5/2013: NEET - noored, kellega keegi ei arvesta ja kes kuskil ei käi

Käesolev poliitikaülevaade keskendub Eestis elavate mittetöötavate ja mitteõppivate noorte (NEET-noorte) igapäevaelu ja sellega seotud probleemide analüüsile ja võimalike poliitikalahenduste leidmisele. Euroopa Eluja Töötingimuste Parandamise Fondi (Eurofound) hiljutise uurimuse kohaselt ei tööta ega õpi ligi kuuendik 15–29-aastastest Eestis elavatest noortest (Eurofound 2012). Absoluutarvudes hinnatuna on Eestis selliseid noori enam kui 40000. Poliitikaülevaate esimeses osas keskendutakse NEET-noortega seotud varasemate uuringute tulemuste tutvustamisele, teises osas esitatakse statistiline lühiülevaade NEET-noorte olukorrast Euroopas ja Eestis, mille järel tutvustatakse kvalitatiivuuringu põhitulemusi. Ülevaade lõpeb valdkonna poliitikameetmete tutvustamisega.http://praxis.ee/fileadmin/tarmo/Projektid/Too-ja_Sotsiaalpoliitika/08_46_56_300_Poliitikaylevaade_5_veeb.pd

Independence and Interdependence Values in Changing Societies: A Three-Generation Comparative Study in Estonia, Germany, and Russia

Independent and interdependent self-construal values of three generations and the intergenerational similarity of self-construal was compared in three countries. The participants were 837 adolescents, their mothers (227 from Russia, 311 from Germany, and 299 from Estonia) and 293 maternal grandmothers. In Germany, all three generations displayed higher scores on independence than participants from other countries. Russian participants had higher scores on interdependence compared to participants from other countries. Adolescents scored significantly higher on the interdependent self-construal than the two older generations, and higher than the mothers’ generation on the independent self-construal. Grandmothers’ self-construal was related to mothers’ in all three countries. In Germany and Estonia, mothers’ interdependent self-construal was related to adolescents’ interdependent self-construal. Grandmothers’ (but not mothers’) independent self-construal predicted adolescents’ independent self-construal. The results are discussed in light of the Family Change Theory and the different roles the participants have