Uvjerenja javnosti o ispravnim roditeljskim postupcima prema djeci najmlađe dobi
Citizens' Beliefs about Desirable Parental Behavior towards Young Children

Summary/Abstract: The aim of the research was to explore the Croatian citizens' beliefs about desirable parental behavior towards children younger than 3 years, and to examine if these could be predicted on the basis of several social-demographic variables. We collected the social-demographic data from the representative sample (N=600), who also filled in the Questionnaire of beliefs about desirable parental practices towards young children. The results showed that, along with the most present belief about the importance of parental involvement, the belief about the importance of obedience and child subordination to adults was highly represented. Lower average agreement with corresponding statements was found for the beliefs justifying non-responsiveness to child's crying, corporal punishment and needlessness of induction (explanation of demands and prohibitions). Mentioned beliefs were found to be well predicted on the basis of social-demographic data, especially education level, followed by age, sex/gender and household income. This set of predictors was least successful in predicting belief about the importance of parental involvement, and most successful in predicting belief about needlessness of induction. Less educated and older citizens, with lower income, held beliefs that were inconsistent with contemporary scientific knowledge about optimal parental support to full realization of child's developmental potential.

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