Public perceptions and preferences regarding vaccination are crucial for shaping pandemic response strategies. Rapid COVID- -19 vaccination was viewed as the only way to end the pande- mic. In this study, we conducted a cross-sectional vignette study in Türkiye using five online surveys to assess participants' per- ceptions of vaccine efficacy based on different countries of ori- gin. We then used standard mean comparison tests and (or- dered) logistic regressions to provide evidence for the country-of- -origin bias of the COVID-19 vaccines. 1615 participants answered our five surveys. Even though the two vaccines are reported to have the same efficacy, participants' subjective evaluation of the vaccine's efficacy and their willingness to get vaccinated are significantly higher when the vaccine originates from Germany rather than from China. Our findings show that the manufacturing origin of vaccines significantly influences perceptions, with people having a bias or preference towards vaccines originating from a particular source despite equal ef- ficacy. More importantly, however, even though a vaccine has a higher efficacy, it may not be the preferred choice of individuals due to its source of origin. Public health officials should note this bias, as vaccination rates play a critical role in pandemic control.

In an online cross-sectional study of 371 Slovenian women, depressive symptoms were assessed using the Edinburgh Post- partum Depression Scale, and satisfaction with childbirth – in- cluding quality of care provision and stress and anxiety manage- ment – was measured with the Birth Satisfaction Scale. The prevalence of depression was 27.22% during pregnancy and 21.32% postpartum. Logistic regression identified significant predictors: stress and anxiety management of childbirth (sig- nificant in severe depression), a history of a depressive episode and depressive symptoms during pregnancy. More predictable deliveries were associated with higher satisfaction with childbirth. Results emphasize the importance of routine depression screening, support for stress and anxiety management, while predictable deliveries increase satisfaction with childbirth.

The objective of the paper is to analyse the characteristics of cultural and creative industries (CCI) in two Croatian counties – the Istria and Šibenik-Knin Counties, as well as to assess their contribution to the county and national economy. Given that an important part of the CCI sector consists of public cultural activities directly financed from public funds, an analysis of public allocations for culture from the state and local budgets is also conducted. Besides analysing the characteristics and contribution of CCIs, we also investigate the impact of CCIs on the economic development of the two counties in question by employing fixed-effects regression for the period 2017– 2022. The results indicate that CCIs are an important part of the economy of both counties, where the contribution of CCIs in Istria County is stronger than in Šibenik-Knin County. The main factor through which CCIs have a significant and positive impact on the economic development in both counties is the gross added value of CCIs per capita. The results also show that other factors such as tourist arrivals (for Istria County) and public expenditure for culture (for Šibenik-Knin County) play significant roles in their respective county models.

The aim of the research was to examine the contribution of personality traits and the functions of listening to music to the explanation of psychological well-being, and to determine whether the contribution of the functions of music to the explanation of the psychological well-being of musicians and nonmusicians differs. The research was conducted on a sample of a total of 876 participants, students of music academies and students of other study programmes from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro. The following instruments were used in the research: a general data questionnaire, an emotional stability scale, an intellect scale, a shortened version of the psychological well- -being scale and a shortened version of the music listening function scale. The results showed that musicians and non- -musicians differ in personality traits (musicians scored higher on both traits) and in the functions of music listening, whereby non-musicians listen to music more for stress and affect regulation, while for musicians, awe and appreciation, strong emotional experience, and identity are more important functions of music. Personality traits were a strong predictor of psychological well-being in both subsamples, but in addition to them, the functions of music also showed a significant separate contribution to psychological well-being. The results led to the conclusion that the contribution of functions of music listening to psychological well-being does not differ significantly between musicians and non-musicians.

The aim of the study was to examine the effects of a motivational intervention based on context personalisation, drawing on from Expectancy-value theory and the Model of interest development. The study aimed to explore whether there would be a difference in motivational beliefs and knowledge between students who participated in the motivational intervention (the experimental group) and students taught in the usual way (the control group) when learning new mathematical content. A total of 316 second grade high school students participated in the study that was conducted at four time points assessing: prior knowledge and general motivation for learning mathematics; specific motivation after the first lesson of a new unit; specific motivation and knowledge after partial completion of the unit; and again, specific motivation and knowledge after completion of the entire unit. The students in the experimental group show higher triggered situational interest and perceived utility, although there were no differences at later time points. There were no significant differences in self-efficacy or test scores. In conclusion, while introducing context personalisation into instruction can increase student motivation, these effects appear to be modest and transient.

Model 5C nastoji objasniti kako interakcije adolescenata s okolinom pridonose pozitivnom razvoju mladih, pri čemu su indikatori pozitivnog razvoja kompetencije, samosvijest, karakter, brižnost i povezanost. Dosadašnja presječna istraživanja poka- zuju da pozitivna školska klima znatno predviđa snažniji razvoj ovih indikatora, ali i da ovi indikatori predviđaju pozitivniju školsku klimu. Ovim je longitudinalnim istraživanjem ispitana povezanost modela 5C i školske klime te njihov međusobni utjecaj kroz vrijeme. Rezultati pokazuju da pozitivna školska klima pridonosi razvoju svih 5C indikatora, dok učenici s razvije- nom odgovornosti i socijalnom svijesti te dobrim odnosima s vršnjacima i nastavnicima pridonose boljoj školskoj klimi. Ovi nalazi naglašavaju važnost poticanja suradnje i individualizira- noga pristupa učenicima s različitim kompetencijama i akadem- skim dostignućima.

Technological progress and the Internet's growing importance have made social media challenges common among adolescents. Despite their prevalence, research on this topic remains scarce. This study explores how adolescents perceive their peers' motivation for participating in social media challenges. Forty-three students in six focus groups participated. The results highlight themes such as the need for (self-)respect, the need for love and belonging, motives related to emotion regulation and sensation seeking, and the pursuit of online identity development. Adolescents emphasise popularity, fun, and peer pressure as key factors. Raising awareness about the impact of social media challenges on young people's daily lives among students, parents, and educators, is crucial.

This study discusses executive cross-department project team performance, in relation to team competency structures. Detailed market-oriented (MO) competencies of team members and performance data are investigated. The empirical analysis based on relationship marketing theory and applied psychology theories shows that for the achievement of budget and deadline goals, it is primarily static competencies that matter; whereas, for the achievement of quality goals, also dynamic competencies matter. Moreover, the role of the strength distribution of competencies is stressed by arguing that team members with strong MO competencies matter for budget and deadline goals (Shackleton principle), while the weakest member has a critical impact on quality goals (weakest-link-of-the-chain principle).

The purpose of this study is to explore urban-rural differences in fertility levels and timing in Croatia, and to explore the spatial evolution of birth delay. Data from 556 local units at three time points were used. The units were classified into cities, towns and suburbs, and rural areas. For comparison, data from Croatian regions and European countries were utilised. The research is based on descriptive statistics, spatial statistics, and geovisualisations. A specific methodological framework relying on the ratio of age- specific fertility rates of older and younger age groups was employed to monitor birth timing. In the period 2001–2011, urban-rural fertility level differences decreased due to increased births in urban areas at older ages. In the period 2011–2021, with the rise of later births in rural areas, differences increased again. The Zagreb region, cities, Istria, the Croatian Littoral, and Dalmatia lead in later births. Urban-rural differences in cohort fertility are greater than those in period fertility. Further shifting towards reducing the proportion of rural population could gradually have a negative impact on the national fertility level.