engleski

Students' empathy and classroom climate as predictors of attitudes towards immigrants: A case study in three EU countries

The development of positive attitudes towards immigrants among students can be addressed at the individual level through their empathic abilities and at the school or classroom level, where the classroom climate plays an important role. In the present study, we have taken a closer look into the relationship between attitudes towards immigrants, two components of empathy (perspective taking, empathic concern), quality of student-teacher relations (both positive and negative) and inclusive classroom climate (presented as perceived intercultural sensitivity of teachers) in a sample of 814 8th-grade students in three EU countries (Slovenia, Croatia, and Sweden). The findings show only empathy (especially perspective taking) was associated with better attitudes towards immigrants in all three countries. Additionally, in two out of three countries, the importance of the relationship with teachers and inclusive classroom climate was important as well. The results are discussed in the light of guidelines for school practice.

attitudes towards immigrants, empathy, classroom climate, students, teachers

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