SELF-EMPOWERING BEHAVIOR AND THINKING FROM EXPERIENCE OF WOMEN AND MEN

Osnaživanje i samoosnaživanje nedovoljno su istraženi pojmovi u području socijalnog rada, naročito u Republici Hrvatskoj. Cilj ovog kvalitativnog istraživanja bio je dobiti bolji uvid u doživljaj koncepta samoosnaživanja. Dobivene spoznaje služiti će za usmjeravanje novih istraživanja o ovoj važnoj temi u području socijalnog rada. Provedene su dvije fokus grupe, prigodnim uzorkom od 5 muških i 5 ženskih sudionika u dobi od 20 do 30 godina, od kojih su 4 sudionika u radnom odnosu, a preostali su studenti. Rezultati pokazuju da sudionice, između ostalog, smatraju kako je samoosnaživanje samopomoć, dugotrajan proces, pomak iz nelagodne situacije, prevladavanje poteškoća, nesvjesna i urođena sposobnost, dok sudionici smatraju da je samoosnaživanje samopomoć, proces koji ne prestaje, ohrabrivanje, zrelost, način života, osvještavanje samoga sebe, organizacija i planiranje, pomak iz neugodne situacije i samouvjeravanje. Vezano uz procjenu iskustva djelotvornosti samoosnažujućeg razmišljanja i ponašanja neke od kategorija koje nalazimo kod sudionica su svrha (podizanje samopouzdanja, realan pogled na sebe) i ishod samoosnaživanja (samopoštovanje, pozitivno razmišljanje, širenje osobnih granica,), osjećaji vezani uz samoosnaživanje (sreća, strah) i preduvjeti za primjenu samoosnaživanja u svakodnevnom životu (svjestan rad na razvijanju samoosnaživanja, primjena kroz osobno iskustvo). Kategorija koju nalazimo kod muških sudionika je svrha samoosnaživanja (realan pogled na sebe, promjena načina razmišljanja).Empowerment and self-empowerment are insufficiently explored concepts in the field of social work, particularly in Croatia. The aim of this qualitative study was to gain a better insight into the perception of the concept of self-empowerment. The obtained findings will be used to guide new research on this important topic in the social work field. Two focus groups were conducted with a convenience sample of 5 male and 5 female participants aged 20-30 years, four of which are employed, and the remaining are students. The results showed that female participants consider self-empowerment to be, among other things, the following: self-help, a never-ending process, shift from an awkward situation, overcoming difficulties, unconscious and innate ability; whereas male participants believe that self-empowerment is self-help, a process that never ends, encouragement, maturity, lifestyle, self-awareness, organization and planning, shift from an awkward situation and autosuggestion. Regarding the assessment of the effectiveness of the empowered thinking and behavior, some of the categories found in female participants are purpose (building self-confidence, achieving realistic sense of self), outcome of self-empowerment (self-esteem, positive thinking, overcoming personal limitations), feelings related to self-empowerment (happiness, fear) and the preconditions for the application of empowerment in their everyday lives (consciously working on the development of self-empowerment, application through personal experience). Category that is found in male participants is the purpose of self-empowerment (achieving realistic sense of self, change in the way of thinking)