engleski

Personal and national wellbeing and migration intentions among graduate students in Croatia

In recent years, there has been a fast growing trend of emigration of young, university- educated people from eastern Croatia to either other regions within Croatia or abroad. Migration has long been a mechanism for those in search of a 'better life', and financial motivations are certainly an important factor for many of those deciding to leave. However, there is a need to better understand factors beyond economics, such as psychological and social factors, that significantly shape intention and motivation for emigration. University of Osijek is a leading education authority in eastern Croatia, providing education for large number of students as potential future experts and leaders pivotal to the improvement of the regional and national economy. However, there is growing concern at the rate at which graduates are leaving the region. The aim of this research is to explore psychosocial factors that influence university students' plans for their future, including their personal and national life satisfaction, collective self-esteem, social connectedness and sense of community. The study involves both quantitative surveys and qualitative focus groups. The findings indicate that while personal wellbeing scores (as measured by the Personal Wellbeing Index) are generally high, scores on the National Wellbeing Index are substantially lower. The paper will examine the relationship between the PWI and NWI with other key psychosocial variables, and provide a nuanced understanding based on focus group data of some of the complex social conditions influencing decision making. Example of factors include notions of Croatian identity, opportunities for personal growth and individual expression, and perceptions of life abroad.

personal wellbeing, national wellbeing, emigration

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