RAZLIKE U PROCENI ZADOVOLJSTVA ŽIVOTOM IZMEĐU OSOBA KOJE IMAJU I KOJE NEMAJU ČLANA PORODICE KOME JE POTREBA POSEBNA NEGA

Abstract

Estimation of life satisfaction is an important indicator of mental health. In families where one member needs intensive care and attention, many mental health parameters start to decline, even life satisfaction. In line with that, we conducted research with a goal to explore the role of marriage quality, job satisfaction, altruism, age, education, and gender in life satisfaction in individuals that have a family member in need of intensive care or additional support (N=98) and individuals that who do not have (N=793). The instruments used were the DAS scale, a combination of the Altruism scale and Alzam scale. Life satisfaction and job satisfaction were evaluated on 10-point scale. All participants were married or in a romantic relationship at the time of research. It showed that there is a significant difference in life satisfaction between these two groups of individuals – a lower level of life satisfaction was identified in a group of individuals that has a family member in need of intensive care. Important predictors of life satisfaction in the first group of individuals were job satisfaction and risks for marriage stability, and in the second job satisfaction, partner agreement and age. Life satisfaction is higher among people who have a university degree and/ or higher education than those who have completed high school in both groups. In both groups, job satisfaction represents an important predictor of life satisfaction. Still, we noticed differences when it comes to the quality of marriage – risks of marriage stability decrease life satisfaction in a group that has a family member in need of intensive care, whereas agreement with partner contributes to life satisfaction in the second group of participants.