Patterns of Sociability and Perception of Informal Social Support in Croatia

Svrha je rada dati uvid u prirodu socijalnih veza te percepciju izvora neformalne socijalne podrške u Hrvatskoj s obzirom na sociodemografska obilježja ispitanika. Izvor podataka bilo je Europsko istraživanje kvalitete života, koje je za Hrvatsku proveo UNDP Hrvatska. Analiza je provedena na uzorku od 8114 punoljetnih ispitanika. Prilikom analize čimbenika učestalosti kontakta primijenjena je linearna regresijska analiza, a na percepciju izvora neformalne socijalne podrške hi-kvadrat test. Rezultati su uputili na učestale socijalne interakcije unutar sekundarne sfere društvenosti, dok se obitelj percipira kao primarni izvor neformalne socijalne podrške. Najvažnijim su se prediktorima učestalosti kontakata unutar sekundarne sfere društvenosti pokazali: spol, dob, život s partnerom, veličina kućanstva te naselja i visina dohotka. Nadalje, dok praktična podrška primarno počiva na obitelji, u slučaju potrebe za emocionalnom te financijskom podrškom ispitanici se uz obitelj obraćaju i prijateljima. Kod emocionalne podrške učestalija je i percepcija podrške susjeda, dok u slučaju potrebe za financijskom podrškom osobe najčešće percipiraju kako se nemaju komu obratiti.This paper provides insight into the nature of social ties and perceptions of sources of informal social support in Croatia with regard to socio-demographic characteristics of respondents. The source of data was the European Quality of Life Survey, which was carried out in Croatia by the UNDP Croatia. The analysis was conducted on a sample of 8114 adult respondents. Linear regression was used for the analysis of factors contributing to the frequency of contacts, while χ2-test was used for analysing perceptions of sources of informal social support. The results showed frequent social interactions within the secondary sphere of sociability, while the family is perceived as the primary source of informal social support. Gender, age, marriage or cohabitation, household size, settlement size and the income size have appeared as the most significant predictors of the incidence of contacts within the secondary sphere of sociability. Furthermore, while practical support is primarily based on the family, in the need for emotional and financial support, respondents are going to turn to family and friends as well. In the case of need for emotional support, neighbours are also perceived as important sources of support. While in the need for financial support, individuals most often perceived that they had no one to turn to