1. Intergenerational solidarity in the eyes of Czech and Slovak youth Jana Levická Zuzana Truhlářová Zuzana Truhlářová Riga, November 2012

2. Structure of the presentation Aims Aims Intergenerational solidarity Intergenerational solidarity Methodology Methodology Research questions Research questions Sample Sample Results Results Discussion Discussion

3. Aims Find out how the youth is perceiving the intergenerational solidarity Find out how the youth is perceiving the intergenerational solidarity Compare the attitudes of Czech and Slovak youth Compare the attitudes of Czech and Slovak youth

4. Introduction Increased interest in the relationship between different age goups Increased interest in the relationship between different age goups Interpersonal relationships as a factor with a strong influence on the quality of life Interpersonal relationships as a factor with a strong influence on the quality of life

5. Intergenerational solidarity „Bonding between individuals of different ages in multigenerational family networks and among different age groups in the community.“ (Bengston, 2012) „Bonding between individuals of different ages in multigenerational family networks and among different age groups in the community.“ (Bengston, 2012) Perceived to be a basic moral principle and one of the pillars of social policy (Botek, 2009, Tomeš, 2010) Perceived to be a basic moral principle and one of the pillars of social policy (Botek, 2009, Tomeš, 2010)

6. Czech Republic and Slovak Republic 1. January 1993 – establishment of Czeh Republic and Slovak Republic (as separete countries) 1. January 1993 – establishment of Czeh Republic and Slovak Republic (as separete countries) Czech Republic – more liberal; Slovakia – more traditional – is this present nowadays in young people’s attitudes? Czech Republic – more liberal; Slovakia – more traditional – is this present nowadays in young people’s attitudes?

7. Methodology Research questions: Research questions: 1. Are there any differencies in the attitude towards seniors depending on participant’s country of origin? 2. Are there any differencies in attitude towards seniors depending on the participant’s sex?

8. Methodology Qantitavive design Qantitavive design Questionnaire Questionnaire SPSS 19 for Windows SPSS 19 for Windows Mann-Whitney test Mann-Whitney test

9. Sample 730 high school students: 730 high school students: 369 from Slovakia 369 from Slovakia 361 from Czech Republic 361 from Czech Republic Age: 15 – 20 years (M = 16,7; SD = 1,25) Age: 15 – 20 years (M = 16,7; SD = 1,25) Sex: 44,5% girls, 55,5% boys Sex: 44,5% girls, 55,5% boys

10. Results - Differences according to COUNTRY OF ORIGIN : Results - Differences according to COUNTRY OF ORIGIN : SLOVAK youth more agree that: people should retire as soon as they reach retirement age people should retire as soon as they reach retirement age the government should create jobs for the young and not employ retirees the government should create jobs for the young and not employ retirees the pensions should be increased the pensions should be increased seniors should help their adult children seniors should help their adult children adult „children“ have the obligation to take care of their parents adult „children“ have the obligation to take care of their parents CZECH youth more agree that: the retirement age should be extended to 70 years of age the retirement age should be extended to 70 years of age seniors do not need any discounts on travelling, museum visits, etc. seniors do not need any discounts on travelling, museum visits, etc. their relationship with their grandparents is better than the relationship with their own parents their relationship with their grandparents is better than the relationship with their own parents

11. Results - Differences according to SEX: BOYS more agree that: it is good when in one household do live more generations it is good when in one household do live more generations retirement should be person’s own decision (no age limit) retirement should be person’s own decision (no age limit) the pensions should be increased the pensions should be increased the government should create jobs for the young and not employ retirees the government should create jobs for the young and not employ retirees seniors do not need any discounts on travelling, museum visits, etc. seniors do not need any discounts on travelling, museum visits, etc.

12. Results - Differences according to SEX: GIRLS more likely claim that: GIRLS more likely claim that: they like to listen to the life stories of their grandparents they like to listen to the life stories of their grandparents they like to spend their free time with their grandparents they like to spend their free time with their grandparents

13. Discussion The attitude towards seniors correspondates with the social climate of respective countries, mainly with the perception of family in society The attitude towards seniors correspondates with the social climate of respective countries, mainly with the perception of family in society Slovak youth perceive seniors as an obstacle to their self-realization in the labor market Slovak youth perceive seniors as an obstacle to their self-realization in the labor market Communications of politicians - the government of Slovakia still emphasizes its good deeds towards seniors, but the younger generation seems to remaine overlooked Communications of politicians - the government of Slovakia still emphasizes its good deeds towards seniors, but the younger generation seems to remaine overlooked

14. Discussion Slovak public is convinced that pensions are very low Slovak public is convinced that pensions are very low Slovak society is more conservative – obligation to take care as normative solidarity Slovak society is more conservative – obligation to take care as normative solidarity

15. Conclusion It is impossible to reduce the attitude of young people to seniors to a matter touching merely different generations. It is impossible to reduce the attitude of young people to seniors to a matter touching merely different generations. Future research: identification of factors affecting the quality of relationships between generations Future research: identification of factors affecting the quality of relationships between generations to develop strategies leading to strengthening of the intergenerational solidarity of youth to develop strategies leading to strengthening of the intergenerational solidarity of youth

16. This paper has been written under the project ESF - 2.3 Development and maintenance of multidisciplinary scientific and research team for contemporary family studies at the University of Hradec Kralove.