Psihologijske teme, Vol. 35 No. 2, 2026.
Izvorni znanstveni članak
https://doi.org/10.31820/pt.35.2.1
The Relationship Between Psychological Determinants, Multicultural Experiences and Intercultural Sensitivity of Future Teachers
Anela Nikčević-Milković
orcid.org/0000-0001-6216-456X
; Sveučilište u Zadru, Odjel za nastavničke studije u Gospiću, Zadar, Hrvatska
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* Dopisni autor.
Sažetak
Modern societies are increasingly culturally complex, and the role of teachers is to adapt to such a context and prepare students for living with numerous cultural differences and the challenges that arise from them. The development of intercultural competences is greatly influenced by the acquisition of multicultural experiences, but also by some psychological determinants that influence the development of its affective part, the so-called intercultural sensitivity. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship and contribution of psychological determinants (personality traits and emotional competence) and multicultural experiences as predictors of the self-assessed level of intercultural sensitivity. The study included 235 participants, mostly female, who were students of teacher education at six universities in the Republic of Croatia. Participants completed a series of questionnaires that examined attitudes towards members of other cultures, personality traits, emotional competence, multicultural experiences, and sociodemographic characteristics. The results show that participants highly rate their own level of intercultural sensitivity, and that it is higher among participants who are currently in contact with members of other cultures, who have travelled abroad several times, who speak multiple foreign languages, and those who have completed high school. Bivariate analyses showed significant correlations between all variables examined, and a multivariate hierarchical regression analysis showed that the traits Agreeableness and Extraversion, the ability to perceive and understand emotions, speaking multiple foreign languages (as the strongest predictor), a larger number of friends, and schooling with members of other cultures significantly contribute to the self-assessed level of intercultural sensitivity (32% of the variance explained). Encouraging and implementing teaching practices within the education system in line with the obtained results could increase the level of intercultural sensitivity, and more generally, intercultural competences.
Ključne riječi
intercultural competences; intercultural sensitivity; multicultural experiences; education system; personality traits; emotional competence
Hrčak ID:
345393
URI
Datum izdavanja:
1.7.2026.
Posjeta: 427 *