Original scientific paper
ADAPTATION TO THE LIFE IN ZAGREB: A COMPARISON BETWEEN AUTOCHTONS AND IMMIGRANTS
Željka Kamenov
; Faculty of Philosophy, Department of Psychology, Zagreb
Zoran Stiperski
; Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, Department of Geography, Zagreb
Abstract
The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that the same physical enviroment, modified by socio–cultural influences, can be perceived in different ways. An extensive survey has been conducted to identify the reasons of immigration to Zagreb, the satisfaction with opportunities the city of Zagreb offers, and the adaptation of its inhabitants to the urban way of life. Interviewed were 748 inhabitants of Zagreb (381 autochtons and 367 immigrants; refugees and displaced persons were not included). A discriminative analysis of items by means of which it has been tested wheter there are differences in the adaptation to the urban way of life between the autochtons and the immigrants resulted in a statistically significant discriminative function. The immigrants differ from the autochtons primarily in terms of feelings connected with the life in a city and the preference for same kinds of behaviour. However, there are no differences concerning everday's life habits and the perception of urban stress sources.
Within each group analyzed was the adaptation to the urban way of life in terms of relevant socio–demographic variables such as sex, age, education, work, lodging, district. The immigrant group has been additionally tested in terms of the duration of stay in Zagreb, the former place of residence and the motives for immigration. In both groups the younger age and better education corresponded with the better adaptation to the life in the city. The best adapted immigrants are those who immigrated last, i. e. after 1985.
Keywords
immigrants; adaptation to the urban way of life; autochtons; urban stress
Hrčak ID:
139511
URI
Publication date:
15.1.2001.
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