| 1. |
- Abubakar, Amina, et al.
(författare)
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Associations Between Social Connectedness and Academic Achievement Among Roma Youth in Eastern Europe
- 2021
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Ingår i: Roma Minority Youth Across Cultural Contexts. - : Oxford University Press. - 9780190654061 ; , s. 133-155
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Bokkapitel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this chapter, the authors report on a study that examined relations between social connectedness, school engagement, and achievement in minority (Roma) and majority youth in Albania, Bulgaria, Kosovo, and Romania. Based on a social connectedness model, they investigated the interplay of two connectedness domains (i.e., school and family) and their relations to school engagement and achievement. Participants were 1,063 adolescents who completed the Social Connectedness Scale on school engagement and average academic achievement. The authors found that social connectedness, especially school connectedness, was associated with school engagement while parental education was associated with school achievement. Implications are discussed in terms of how these findings are relevant to greater insight into the promotion of connectedness and the academic success of minority and majority youth across the countries under investigation.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Dimitrova, Radosveta, et al.
(författare)
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Is There a Paradox of Adaptation in Immigrant Children and Youth Across Europe? A Literature Review
- 2017
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Ingår i: Well-Being of Youth and Emerging Adults across Cultures. - Cham : Springer. - 9783319683621 - 9783319683638 ; , s. 261-298
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Bokkapitel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This review examines how well children of immigrants in Europe are doing in terms of educational, psychological, and behavioral outcomes. Based on theory and research in developmental, social and acculturation psychology fields, we explore the immigrant paradox (e.g., first-generation immigrant children show better adaptation in comparison to their native and second-generation counterparts) and migration morbidity (e.g., immigrants display less favorable outcomes than natives) in 102 studies conducted in 14 European countris. We conclude that theoretical assumptions of developmental (e.g., promoting context in families, schools, neighborhoods), social (e.g., intercultural behaviors and attitudes, lack of discrimination) and acculturation psychology (e.g., cultural maintenance and adoption, biculturalism) are powerful constituents for optimal adaptation of immigrant children and youth. Taken together, these constituents should guide policies and programs targeting optimal outcomes for children of immigrants. A discussion within empirically based policy practices to promote positive outcomes of young immigrant populations in Europe is offered.
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| 4. |
- Dimitrova, Radosveta, et al.
(författare)
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Multiple Social Identities in Relation to Self-Esteem of Adolescents in Post-communist Albania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Kosovo, and Romania
- 2018
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Ingår i: Changing Values and Identities in the Post-Communist World. - Cham : Springer. - 9783319726151 - 9783319726168 ; , s. 225-241
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Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- We test a model linking ethnic, familial, and religious identity to self-esteem among youth in Albania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Kosovo, and Romania. All countries are post-communist nations in Europe, offering novel and underexplored settings to study identity. Participants were 880 adolescents (mean age, 15.93 years; SD, 1.40) with Albanian (n = 209), Bulgarian (n = 146), Czech (n = 306), Kosovan (n = 116), and Romanian (n = 103) background who filled in an Ethnic Identity Scale (Dimitrova et al., 2016), familial and religious identity scales adapted from the Utrecht Management of Identity Commitment Scales [U-MICS; Crocetti et al. Child and Youth Care Forum, 40, 7–23 (2011); Crocetti et al. Assessment, 1, 2–16 (2015)], and the Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale [Rosenberg, Conceiving the self. Basic Books, New York (1979)]. A multigroup path model showed that ethnic, familial, and religious identities were significantly positively related to a single underlying construct of social identities. In all countries, youth with a stronger multiple identities reported higher self-esteem. These results are particularly valuable in addressing the scope of the proposed book by providing new knowledge on multiple social identities among under investigated samples from post-communist countries in Europe faced with dynamic societal changes. They also mirror increasing attention on multiple, inclusive, and intersectional identities as psychological assets for young generations.
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| 5. |
- Dimitrova, Radosveta, et al.
(författare)
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National collective identity in transitional societies : Salience and relations to life satisfaction for youth in South Africa, Albania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Kosovo and Romania
- 2017
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Ingår i: Journal of Psychology in Africa. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1433-0237 .- 1815-5626. ; 27:2, s. 150-158
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this study we investigated the salience of the construct of national collective identity and its associations with life satisfaction among adolescents living in transitional societies characterised by relevant change in the last decades. Participants were 1 066 adolescents (M = 15.35 years, SD = 1.35) from South Africa (n = 186) and five Central Eastern European countries, including Albania (n = 209), Bulgaria (n = 146), Czech Republic (n = 306), Kosovo (n = 116), and Romania (n = 103). They completed a questionnaire including national identity and life satisfaction scales. Data were analysed using confirmatory factor analysis and multi-group structural equation modeling. Results showed that national identity of adolescents in transitional societies is multidimensional and pertains to different salient dimensions (i.e., self-categorisation, evaluation, importance, attachment, and behavioural involvement). Importantly, the findings provided evidence to suggest that higher levels of national collective identity are associated with increased levels of life satisfaction.
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| 6. |
- Dimitrova, Radosveta, et al.
(författare)
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Positive Youth Development in Bulgaria, Italy, Norway and Romania : Testing the Factorial Structure and Measurement Invariance of the 5Cs Model
- 2021
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Ingår i: Handbook of Positive Youth Development. - Cham : Springer Nature. - 9783030702618 - 9783030702649 - 9783030702625 ; , s. 267-281
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Bokkapitel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This chapter applies the 5Cs model of PYD comprising competence, confidence, character, connection and caring among 1403 youth (M = 18.91 years) in Bulgaria (n = 196), Italy (n = 354), Norway (n = 564) and Romania (n = 289). These countries offer a novel and unique context to apply PYD as related comparative work with youth samples is rare across Eastern (Bulgaria and Romania), Southern (Italy) and Northern Europe (Norway). Further, Bulgaria and Romania are emerging nations following the collapse of the communism in late 1980s in contrast to Italy being a traditionally patriarchal country and social equity driven Norway. The chapter presents an empirical example that evaluates the factorial structure and measurement invariance (i.e., the degree to which the scale measurements conducted across different populations exhibit similar psychometric properties) of the 5Cs model. The results of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported the 5Cs as well as a second-order 5Cs of PYD factors, suggesting that the 5Cs model is a reliable and valid measurement tool in the four European countries investigated. The chapter concludes with an exploration of relevant implications for research, policy, and practice.
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| 7. |
- Dimitrova, Radosveta, et al.
(författare)
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Understanding Factors Affecting Well-Being of Marginalized Populations in Different Cultural Contexts : Ethnic and National Identity of Roma Minority Youth in Europe
- 2018
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Ingår i: Developmental Science and Sustainable Development Goals for Children and Youth. - Cham : Springer. - 9783319965918 - 9783319965925 ; , s. 169-185
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Bokkapitel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This chapter focuses on the intersection of the third, fourth and tenth Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), referring together to key pillars for improving social inclusion of vulnerable disadvantaged youth. Based on both Positive Youth Development approach and mutual intercultural relations perspective, it sets out to investigate developmental assets (such as ethnic and national identities), optimal outcomes (self-esteem), and their relations among Roma youth in six European countries (Albania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Italy, Kosovo, and Romania). Among these countries, the Czech Republic was initially recognized as the more favorable context facilitating potential alignment of Roma young people’s ecology with their identity resources, and therefore, promoting well-being. Results supported that in the Czech Republic youth experienced more stable integration of both Roma ethnic and national identities in terms of similar mean levels as well as positive associations of both identities with self-esteem. Results for the other countries were quite fragmented depending on the specific contextual conditions. The findings are discussed in light of the SDGs, the theoretical frameworks, research contexts and limitations, and implications.
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| 8. |
- Ferrer-Wreder, Laura, et al.
(författare)
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The Importance of Positive Psychological Strengths in Well-Being and Adjustment of Romanian Emerging Adults : A Pattern and Variable-Oriented Approach
- 2021
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Psychology. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 1664-1078. ; 12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Transition to adulthood in countries that have seen recent historical structural changes in society as well as changes in what it means to be an adult represents important contexts for investigations of ways in which positive development and transition to adulthood are experienced. Situated in such context, this cross-sectional study aimed to (1) describe profiles of positive psychological strengths, as measured by the Five Cs of positive youth development (PYD) and (2) document how identified profiles might differ in relation to other aspects of positive and problematic development. Participants were 272 Romanian emerging adults attending university (76% female; aged 19-29 years old, M-age = 21 years old). Latent class analysis was performed to identify patterns of psychological strengths using the Five Cs theory of positive youth development. Pairwise Wald chi square difference tests were then conducted to determine if the identified Five Cs profiles were associated with significant differences in other key outcomes. Findings indicated that, a two-class model emerged as the best fitting model, and in this model, Class 1 was similar to Class 2 on strengths of competence, confidence, and connection. However, the two classes were distinguishable by caring and character, with Class 2, the numerically more common profile (89%), being elevated on character and caring relative to Class 1 (which was a less frequently occurring profile, 11%). This finding highlights the importance of examining the diversity of positive development, even within the same theoretical framework. Further results indicated that the two identified classes showed similarities in problematic behaviors as well as in purpose in life and psychological complaints. Other group difference tests by profile/class indicated that Class 2 was higher in general and social well-being relative to Class 1, with a trend in the same direction for hope. However, an unexpected finding was that Class 2 was also elevated in somatic complaints relative to Class 1. These are important findings not only because of the contribution to the generalizability of the Five Cs theory and measure but also because of the implications of the findings to research, policy, and practice in the Romanian context and beyond.
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| 9. |
- He, Jia, et al.
(författare)
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Socially Desirable Responding : Enhancement and Denial in 20 Countries
- 2015
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Ingår i: Cross-cultural research. - : SAGE Publications. - 1069-3971 .- 1552-3578. ; 49:3, s. 227-249
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This article investigated the dimensionality, measurement invariance, and cross-cultural variations of social desirability. A total of 3,471 university students from 20 countries completed an adapted version of the Marlowe-Crowne scale. A two-dimensional structure was revealed in the pooled sample, distinguishing enhancement (endorsement of positive self-description) and denial (rejection of negative self-description). The factor structure was supported in most countries; medium-sized item bias was found in two denial items. In a multilevel analysis, we found that (a) there was more cross-cultural variation in denial than enhancement; (b) females tended to score higher on enhancement whereas males tended to score higher on denial; (c) the Human Development Index, an indicator of country socioeconomic development, was the best (negative) predictor of denial; and (d) both enhancement and denial seemed to be associated with country-level values and personality pertinent to fitting in. We conclude that social desirability has a positive and a negative impression management dimension that are meaningfully associated with country-level characteristics, and we argue that social desirability is better interpreted as culturally regulated response amplification.
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| 10. |
- Jovanović, Veljko, et al.
(författare)
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The Satisfaction with Life Scale in Adolescent Samples : Measurement Invariance across 24 Countries and Regions, Age, and Gender
- 2022
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Ingår i: Applied Research in Quality of Life. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1871-2584 .- 1871-2576. ; 17:4, s. 2139-2161
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Measurement of adolescent life satisfaction across cultures has not received much attention in previous empirical research. The present study evaluated measurement invariance of the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) among adolescents in 24 countries and regions (N = 22,710; age range = 13–19 years; 53% female). A single-factor model with residual covariance between a pair of items tapping past life satisfaction fitted well in 19 countries and regions and showed a partial metric invariance. In a subset of nine countries and regions, partial scalar invariance was supported. Partial metric invariance across all 24 countries and regions was achieved when custom model modifications in five countries and regions were included. Three SWLS items showed evidence of noninvariance across cultures. The measurement model was found to operate similarly across gender and age. Our findings suggest that caution is needed when using the SWLS for measuring life satisfaction among adolescents from different cultures.
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