Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.5673/sip.54.1.2
The Quality of Family Life in Various Rural Areas: Example of Four Municipalities in Sisak – Moslavina County
Ana Miljenović
orcid.org/0000-0002-3486-0696
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Law, Department of Social Work, Croatia
Slavica Blažeka Kokorić
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Law, Department of Social Work, Croatia
Gordana Berc
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Law, Department of Social Work, Croatia
Abstract
Rural context is not a unique experience. It is a result of different socio-cultural and historical
heritage as well as different local development. The purpose of this paper is to point out the
specific characteristics of rural areas, which are manifested in various aspects of the quality
of family life within the same regional unit. As an example of existing disparities, the survey
covered four municipalities in Sisak-Moslavina County: two municipalities that experienced
war damage and whose development index is below 50% of the Croatian average (Dvor and
Hrvatska Dubica) and two municipalities that weren’t affected by the war and their development
index is within the average range in Croatia (Velika Ludina and Lipovljani).The study
was conducted on the sample of 390 primary school children’s parents. The survey covered
the following aspects of the quality of family life: material and employment status, housing
conditions, children’s educational opportunities, quality of family relationships, presence of
different stressors in the family, health status, social networks and availability of social support,
social inclusion and integration into the community, perception of the quality of life in
the community. The results show differences in certain aspects of the quality of life regarding
the local development context and the family structure (nuclear and extended family).
Specific difficulties that families with unemployed members experience are presented and
compared to families with at least one employed member. Finally, various risk and protective
factors which arise within the family and wider environment are problematized. They significantly
affect the overall functioning and quality of life of families in rural areas.
Keywords
rural surrounding; local development; quality of family life; nuclear and extended families; families with and without members active on the labour market
Hrčak ID:
156645
URI
Publication date:
22.4.2016.
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