Youth’s educational experiences before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic

Odak, Iva and Antulić Majcen, Sandra and Košir, Suzana (2025) Youth’s educational experiences before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. In: Two countries, one crisis: the YO-VID22 pandemic study. Edition Special Editions . University of Maribor, University of Maribor Press ; Institute for Social Research in Zagreb, Maribor, pp. 73-101. ISBN 978-961-299-048-0 (Print), 978-961-299-047-3 (Online)

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Abstract

IN ENGLISH: This chapter explores shifts in educational trajectories and student well-being in Croatia and Slovenia before (2018), during, and after (2023) the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings indicate that participation in formal education remains high, particularly in Slovenia, with girls more often enrolled in graduate studies. However, students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds were disproportionately excluded from higher levels of education, with inequalities especially evident in Croatia at the primary and secondary levels. The pandemic negatively affected subjective well-being, most severely among girls and young people in lower levels of education. Stress levels were consistently high, with differing patterns across countries and education levels, and were strongly linked to diminished well-being and academic performance. During the pandemic, schools and universities acted as crucial support structures, partly mitigating adverse outcomes, yet disparities persisted post-pandemic. Educational aspirations remained generally strong, though shaped by gender and socioeconomic status, revealing both resilience and entrenched inequalities in youth education pathways. --------------- IN CROATIAN: Ovo poglavlje istražuje promjene u obrazovnim putanjama i dobrobiti studenata u Hrvatskoj i Sloveniji prije (2018.), tijekom i nakon (2023.) pandemije COVID-19. Nalazi pokazuju da sudjelovanje u formalnom obrazovanju ostaje visoko, osobito u Sloveniji, pri čemu su djevojke češće upisane na diplomske studije. Međutim, studenti iz nižih socioekonomskih slojeva nesrazmjerno su isključeni iz viših razina obrazovanja, a nejednakosti su posebno izražene u Hrvatskoj na osnovnoškolskoj i srednjoškolskoj razini. Pandemija je negativno utjecala na subjektivnu dobrobit, najteže među djevojkama i mladima na nižim obrazovnim razinama. Razine stresa bile su dosljedno visoke, s različitim obrascima među zemljama i razinama obrazovanja, a snažno su bile povezane sa smanjenom dobrobiti i akademskim uspjehom. Tijekom pandemije škole i sveučilišta djelovale su kao ključne strukture podrške, djelomično ublažavajući negativne posljedice, no nejednakosti su se nastavile i u postpandemijskom razdoblju. Obrazovne aspiracije ostale su općenito snažne, iako oblikovane rodom i socioekonomskim statusom, što otkriva istodobno otpornost i ukorijenjene nejednakosti u obrazovnim putanjama mladih.

Item Type:	Book Section
Additional Information:	Language: English. - Title in Croatian: Obrazovna iskustva mladih prije, tijekom i nakon pandemije COVID-19.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Education, students, well-being, socioeconomic disparities, Croatia and Slovenia (obrazovanje, studenti, dobrobit, socioekonomske nejednakosti, Hrvatska i Slovenija)
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology H Social Sciences > HM Sociology L Education > L Education (General)
Depositing User:	Karolina
Date Deposited:	04 Sep 2025 11:57
Last Modified:	04 Sep 2025 11:57
URI:	http://idiprints.knjiznica.idi.hr/id/eprint/1235

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