Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to describe the effect of differences in socio-cultural context on adolescents' probability estimations of attaining a positive future in three life domains: education, occupation and family. The sample consisted of 352 Polish and Finnish girls and boys. 17-years-old, from vocational and upper secondary schools. The 78-items questionnaire was used to measure different aspects of future - orientation (probability, valency, extension of future events in three life domains), and individual resources (self-esteem, beliefs of control over future, and social knowledge about normativity and generation gap). The effect of cultural differences on future-orientation of Polish and Finnish adolescents was found. The findings show mediating role of different macro socio-cultural changes in Poland and Finland
(ideological shift and economical stabilization in Poland vs. ideological stability and economical depression in Finland) in adolescents' optimism ref1ected in probability estimations of attaining positive future. The conclusion of this study was suggestion that ideological changes in themselves do not affect young people orientation to the future, but rather the perceived changes in economical prospects and educational opportunities.
