Sociopolitical control among parents of school‐age children in a post‐socialist city

Abstract

This study explored sociopolitical control among parents of school‐age children in a suburban municipality of a large post‐socialist city. The participants completed a questionnaire that asked them about their sense of sociopolitical control in terms of leadership competence and policy control, as well as about other aspects of their lives, including mental health. The findings show that the participants have a greater sense of sociopolitical control in terms of leadership competence than in terms of policy control. Moreover, the findings show that voting in the last presidential election and degree of depression influenced negatively the sense of leadership competence among parti‐cipants. Within the context of empowerment, the findings have implications for practice which focuses on consumer‐based activities that allow citizens more leadership opportunities and control at the local level. Future research is needed that replicates this study, taking into account its limitations. In order for citizens in post‐socialist countries to create civil societies at the same time that they implement market economies, they must be empowered. Some evidence suggests that several factors, including mental health problems, may influence the sense of empowerment among citizens in post‐socialist coun‐tries. Within the context of empowerment, this study examines sociopolitical control among citizens in a suburb of a large post‐socialist city. The findings in the study have implications for social welfare practice in this city and for future research.