Original scientific paper

Anomie, Depressiveness, and Anti-Western Orientation

Zlatko Šram ; Croatian Academic Society, Subotica, Serbia

Abstract

The aim of this study was to find out (1) whether and to what extent depressiveness and anti-Western orientation contribute to prediction of results on the dimension of anomie, and (2) the effect of sex, parents' educational level, subjective estimation of living standard, and declarative religiosity on anomie, depressiveness, and anti-Western orientation. The research was conducted on a sample of first year students at University of Zagreb (N=223). Factor analysis of the scales applied to measure anomie, depressiveness, and anti-Western orientation yielded one-factor solutions. Factorially isolated measures showed high reliability computed by Cronbach coeficient. The results of regression analysis have shown that depressiveness and anti-Western orientation are significant predictors of anomie. The magnitude of partial correlation between depressiveness and anomie indicated the existence of the anomic depression syndrome. The results of the analysis of variance did not confirm the assumption that parents' educational level does effect the degree of anomie, depressiveness, and anti-Western orientation. The subjective estimation of living standard is negatively associated with all the examined variables. The participants who estimate their living standard as above-averaged express a lesser degree of anomie, depressiveness, and anti-Western orientation. The effect of declarative religiosity on the expression of anomie and depressiveness is not confirmed in this study. However, committed believers who accept all the Church doctrines express to a greater extent an anti-Western orientation. Sex proved a significant predictor of depressiveness; females are more inclined to depressive mood than males. Author emphasizes a need the results of research be considered with caution and reserve, because the research was carried out on a very selective sample with relatively small number of participants. However, the results obtained justify conducting further, more representative and complex study of the same measures on a general or specific population in Croatia.

Keywords

ANOMIE; DEPRESSIVENESS; ANTI-WESTERN ORIENTATION; ANOMIC DEPRESSION; SUBJECTIVE LIVING STANDARD; DECLARATIVE RELIGIOSITY

Hrčak ID:

23026

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/23026

Publication date:

31.12.2007.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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