Original scientific paper
FROM RISK TO HAPPINESS: THE RESILIENCE OF ADOLESCENTS IN RESIDENTIAL CARE
Ivana Maurović
; Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Valerija Križanić
; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
Petra Klasić
; Caritas, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
This paper aims to explore some mechanisms in the resilience process. The goal of the study is to determine the relation between risk, protective mechanisms, and levels of happiness. These relationships have been tested among youth in residential care, a population exposed to numerous risks, exhibiting behavioural problems, but also other relevant developmental outcomes that have so far been under-researched. The research was conducted with the convenience sample of 118 youth placed in community residential home in Zagreb, Karlovac, Rijeka, and Osijek, and in the state residential home in Centre Bedekovčina. The participants' age ranged from 14 to 18 (M=16.47, SD=1.21). The data were analysed utilizing descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations and hierarchical regression. The results indicate that participants are involved into resilient process, as they, on average, satisfy two of the most important criteria for resilience: high risk and favourable outcome. The participants have assessed their own risk levels (major life events/stressors and everyday stressors) and their levels of happiness as relatively high. Additionally, they have assessed the level of their protective mechanisms as high, which is assistive in the resilience process, according to the relevant literature. Among the risk factors, only the everyday stress was found to be correlated (negatively) with the self-assessment of happiness. Three of four protective mechanisms were significantly positively correlated with the level of happiness (individual resources, caring relationships with the professional staff and friends), while caring relationships with family were not correlated with the level of happiness. Among all of these predictors, only the individual resources had a significant independent effect in explaining the variance in happiness levels. The results have been interpreted in line with the relevant findings in the area of resilience and subjective well-being, according to which some intervention guidelines have been discussed.
Keywords
risk; happiness; resilience; adolescence; residential care
Hrčak ID:
136815
URI
Publication date:
25.3.2015.
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