Some characteristics of social interactions among adolescents in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Macedonia

Abstract

IntroductionThe bioecological model refers to the basic social needs that a person has satisfied through social interactions. In individualist cultures, the need for independence is emphasized with the aim of self-realization and personal achievement. In collectivist cultures, togetherness is encouraged and it prevails over individuality.AimThe aim of this study was to determine whether there were differences in adolescents (n = 1033) from three different cultural environments (Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Macedonia) with regard to the various aspects of the social interactions and behaviors these adolescents exercise with their parents and friends.MethodsThree groups of questionnaires were used: those that measure family interactions (the quality of family interactions, loneliness in the family, and family influence); those that assess peer interactions (quality of friendships, social loneliness, and influence of friendships); and those that examined behavioral variables (self-esteem, aggression, and prosocialness).ResultsDiscriminant analysis has shown that there are two significant functions that differentiate subjects from the three different cultural environments. The first discriminant function that adequately discriminates between subjects in all three cultural environments is related to social and family loneliness and the influence of friends. Loneliness in the family, social loneliness, and influence of friends are most prevalent among adolescents in Macedonia and least among adolescents in Croatia. The second function that distinguished adolescents in Croatia from those in the other two cultural environments was primarily connected with the quality of family interactions, aggressiveness, parent influence, and self-esteem. Finally, it was found that adolescents from Bosnia and Herzegovina were more likely to engage in family interactions, have greater levels of parental influence, and appeared to be less aggressive and had lower self-esteem than adolescents from the other two regions.

Awe, the diminished self, and collective engagement: Universals and cultural variations in the small self.

“…Lastly, we expected culture to influence the content of how awe shapes the small self, namely in terms of the nature of the social networks the individual feels embedded in. Although people in all cultures show a preference for social integration (Baumeister & Leary, 1995; Fiske & Yamamoto, 2005), individuals from collectivist cultures seek security and strong ties with known others, whereas people from individualistic cultures tend to prefer a wider and more loosely connected social network, with ties to strangers as well as intimates (Fiske & Yamamoto, 2005; Klarin, Pororoković, Šašić, & Arnaudova, 2012; Triandis, Bontempo, Villareal, Asai, & Lucca, 1988; Wheeler, Reis, & Bond, 1989). Given these cultural differences (Oyserman et al, 2002), we hypothesized that in collectivistic China, awe would strengthen the intensity of social ties for the individual, whereas in individualistic United States awe will increase the number of people perceived to be part of an individual’s social network.…”

“…Guided by the social functional approach and the universal need for social integration (Baumeister & Leary, 1995; Fiske & Yamamoto, 2005), we expected that awe, by rendering the self smaller, would enhance individuals’ collective orientation in both cultures. Further, given how collectivism is thought to manifest differently in Western and Eastern Asian cultures (Fiske & Yamamoto, 2005; Klarin et al, 2012; Oyserman et al, 2002; Triandis et al, 1988; Wheeler et al, 1989), we expected the content of this orientation to differ in Western and Eastern Asian cultures. For individuals from collectivistic China who seek intimate relation with secure and strong connections, we expected awe to strengthen the intensity of social ties for the individual; whereas for individuals from the individualistic United States who prefers wider and more loosely connected networks, awe was expected to increase the number of people perceived to be part of individual’s social network.…”

Factors motivating participation in physical activity in students of Warsaw Univeristy by gender

“…It is a common object of interest in many studies on physical activity both in Poland and abroad [8,9,10,11,12,13]. The percentage of students participating in physical activity is very diverse, but still considered low.…”

The Mediating Role of Teacher–Pupil Interaction in the Relationship of Pupil Temperament to Self-Esteem and School Success

“…In B&H, there is a lower gross domestic product, lower wages, higher unemployment, lower purchasing power, and lower level of education of the population (Statistics Agency of B&H, 2017; Croatian Bureau of Statistics, 2017), which possibly causes a higher level of stress in parents in B&H, and a higher level of negative affectivity in children. Previous research has also shown differences in the expression of collectivist and individualistic orientations among adolescents in these two countries (Klarin et al, 2010;Klarin et al, 2012a;Klarin et al, 2012b;Šimić Šašić & Klarin, 2014;Puhalo, 2005). Previous research has shown that pupils whose families come from collectivist cultures perceive greater teacher proximity (den Brok & Levy, 2005).…”

“…The cultural context (macrosystem) influences the development of an individual directly, but also indirectly by influencing the characteristics of significant others (values, attitudes). The characteristics of significant others shape relationships and interactions with children, and affect the characteristics of children (Adams & Ryan, 2005;Darling & Steinberg, 1993 (Klarin et al, 2012b), and their parents have greater influence on decision-making in various spheres of life (Klarin et al, 2010), as well as a greater contribution from family interaction (family satisfaction and family loneliness) to explaining self-esteem (Klarin et al, 2012a). Radin (2002) found a change in value orientations of young people in Croatia towards individualism, as well as differences in value orientations with regard to regional affiliation.…”