engleski

Differences in well-being indicators between parents and childless participants living in north Adriatic coast and central and south Dalmatia

Question of birthrate is one of the main concerns in Croatia nowadays, as country is facing negative natural increase and growing emigration. According to data of Croatian bureau of statistics, south and central Dalmatia (SCD) had the highest number of born children per number of residents in 2018., while that ratio was lowest in north Adriatic region (NAC). As research show that some factors like job or living standard may influence one’s decision to postpone the parenthood, we were interested to explore possible differences in well-being (WB)between two regions. For the purpose of this study, data from the second wave of online Croatian longitudinal study on well-being was used. Results on overall life satisfaction(LS), happiness, satisfaction with specific domains and demographic variables were used. Out of total sample (N=2447), four subsamples were formed: parents (N=136)and childless participants from NAC (N=152), and parents(N=120) and childless(N=154)from CSD. Regardless of the region, subsamples mostly consisted of educated, employed and married women, with parents being older by age (averageage52)and childless participants younger (average age 34). Results indicated that there was no difference in most of WB indicators between participants, regardless of the region or parental status, but NAC parents expressed lowest satisfaction with health, while CSD parents with safety. Regression analysis showed that demographic characteristics and satisfaction with specific life domains explain between 63% (CSD parents) and 73% (CSD childless) of the LS variance. Among childless participants in both regions, satisfaction with standard and achievement were important predictor of LS. Job satisfaction was important for LS of both parental subsamples, but among CSD parents significant contributors were additionally income, life standard, safety and love. Results and practical implications will be discussed in the framework of Erikson’s development theory.

well-being ; life satisfaction ; parenthood ; birthrate ; the Adriatic coast ; Dalmatia, CRO-WELL

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