Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.5673/sip.61.1.1
Socio-economic and Gender Aspects of Youth Risk Behaviours in Croatia
Mirjana Adamović
orcid.org/0000-0002-2132-9345
; Institute for Social Research in Zagreb, Croatia
Anja Gvozdanović
orcid.org/0000-0002-1213-5928
; Institute for Social Research in Zagreb, Croatia
Dunja Potočnik
orcid.org/0000-0003-1256-2660
; Institute for Social Research in Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Using a sociological approach, this paper analyzes risky behaviors and their correlation to sociodemographic
characteristics of youth in Croatia. Two theoretical approaches are applied. The
first approach employs a class or socioeconomic perspective that considers social position as
an important determinant of behavior choices. The second approach examines risky behaviors
in the context of sociocultural factors, specifically gender dimensions. Both approaches seek
to theoretically approximate the concept of habitus developed by Bourdieu. The results of this
empirical research indicate a consistent presence of gender differences that can be attributed to
a strong masculine culture that genderizes risky behaviors such as smoking, alcohol consumption,
drug use, and other deviant behaviors. Socioeconomic characteristics, on the other hand,
depend to a greater extent on the type of risky behavior. Socioeconomic status is a significant
indipendent variable, but with different directions of association to some risky behaviors such
as alcohol consumption and behavioral deviations. Socioeconomic status is positively associated
with the experience of alcohol consumption and (auto)destructive behaviors, while it
is negatively and significantly associated with behaviors that can be labeled as deviant in the
context of education. This paper is based on a quantitative research conducted in 2018 on a
sample of 1500 respondents aged 14 to 29 from across Croatia.
Keywords
risky behaviour; young people; gender; SES; Croatia
Hrčak ID:
303056
URI
Publication date:
29.5.2023.
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