The Perspective of Children in Croatia on Materialism and Values That are More Important Than Material Goods

Abstract

Cilj je ovoga rada istražiti perspektivu djece u Hrvatskoj o materijalizmu i vrijednostima koje su važnije od materijalnih dobara. Preciznije, zanima nas smatraju li djeca u Hrvatskoj da je posjedovanje skupih materijalnih dobara i mnogo materijalnih dobara važno, potom koje ishode materijalizma djeca prepoznaju te što smatraju važnijim od posjedovanja skupih stvari i akumuliranja mnogo stvari. Istraživanje je provedenom metodom online fokus-grupa s djecom od 5. do 8. razreda osnovne škole iz različitih dijelova Hrvatske. Uzorak se sastojao od 40 djece (20 dječaka, 20 djevojčica; prosječna dob = 12.85). Analizom izjava djece utvrđeno je da djeca u Hrvatskoj posjedovanje skupih materijalnih dobara i mnogo materijalnih dobara ne smatraju važnim, ali primjećuju da je to bitno nekim pojedincima i društvenim skupinama. Nadalje, djeca s materijalizmom povezuju sljedeće ishode: prihvaćenost u društvu i društveni status, lažne prijatelje i iskorištavanje, kratkotrajnu sreću te, konačno, hvalisanje, aroganciju i bahatost. Kao vrijednosti važnije od materijalnih dobara djeca ističu prijatelje i društvo, obitelj, hobije i osobne interese, zdravlje, sreću i ostalo. U Hrvatskoj dosad nije posebno ispitivana perspektiva djece o materijalizmu. Razumijevanje razmišljanja djece o novcu, potrošnji, bogatstvu, sreći i drugim vrijednostima može pomoći roditeljima, odgojiteljima, donositeljima politika i drugima da bolje podrže dječji razvoj i pruže im vrijednosti koje će im biti korisne u životu.The aim of this work is to investigate the perspective of children in Croatia towards materialism and values that are more important than material possessions. Specifically, we are interested in whether children in Croatia think it is important to own expensive and many material goods, the outcomes of materialism that children recognize and what they think is more important than owning and accumulating expensive things. The research was conducted using the method of online focus groups with children attending 5th to 8th grade of elementary school from different parts of Croatia. The sample consisted of 40 children (20 boys, 20 girls; average age = 12.85). The analysis of children\u27s statements established that children in Croatia do not think it is important to own expensive and many material goods, but they note that it is important for some individuals and social groups. Furthermore, children associate the following outcomes with materialism: acceptance in society and social status, false friends and exploitation, short-lived happiness, and finally boasting, and arrogance. Furthermore, as values more important than material goods, children point out: friends and society, family, hobbies and personal interests, health, happiness, and others. In Croatia, the perspective of children towards materialism has not been specifically examined thus far. Understanding how children perceive money, spending, wealth, happiness, and other values can help parents, educators, policy makers, and others to better support children\u27s development and provide them with values that will be useful in their lives. This work was supported by the Catholic University of Croatia. The project is entitled “Happiness is not in material things: The role of the media, parents and peers in shaping materialism in children”