Zeszyty Naukowe Katolickiego Uniwersytetu Lubelskiego Jana Pawła II

Decline of Professional Activity and the Needs Fulfilled by Work. Comparative Analysis of Polish and Czech Working Retirees

2025-09-11T12:35:52+02:00

The article aims to investigate how work satisfies values and needs of retired workers through the theoretical concept of active aging. It discusses the three needs that work satisfies (economic, social, and self-realization) and references Ronald Inglehart’s concept of changes in the value system. The results of quantitative research conducted in 2019 in the Czech Republic (Ostrava) and Poland (Katowice), along with qualitative research conducted in 2024, were used for the empirical analysis. The quantitative research aimed to scrutinize the life and work strategies of the 55–65-year-old generation in large cities (169 interviews were conducted in Poland and 152 in the Czech Republic). The qualitative research utilized an in-depth interview (12 in Poland and 10 in the Czech Republic), with the results drawing comparisons between retirees who are still working and the remaining working 55-plus generation. Similarities and differences in the needs and values satisfied by work among the two analyzed groups are then discussed.

If Not Religion, then What Matters? Intra- And Intergenerational Differentiation of the Axiological-Normative Systems of Young Pole

2025-11-24T10:00:07+01:00

The crises of recent years, including the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and economic instability, may disrupt the mechanism described by Inglehart, according to which increasing existential security in a society leads to the adoption of post-materialist values. The aim of the article is to identify the value hierarchy of young Poles, with particular attention to the place of religious faith, and to show intergenerational (Generations Y and Z) as well as intragenerational differences. The empirical data analyzed come from quantitative research conducted by CBOS, primarily from a representative survey of individuals aged 18–44 carried out in November 2024. Student’s t-tests were used to compare means, along with an analysis of response distributions. For trend data from 2017–2025, indicators of declared faith and religious practices were examined. Differences between Generations Y and Z are minor, while differences between women and men are clearly pronounced: women rate the importance of values such as equal treatment of others, education, engagement with culture, respect from other people, and ecology, environmental care significantly higher. The downward trend in religious practice in Poland slowed after the pandemic, and 2025 saw an increase in declared religiosity among young people. The accumulation of crises shifts young cohorts toward security-related values, indicating a weakening of the post-materialist dynamic expected under Inglehart’s theory. At the same time, strong intragenerational differences between women and men suggest that these gender differences – rather than generational divisions per se – may become a key factor in explaining contemporary value orientations among young Poles.

Penitentiary and Non-Penitentiary Factors of Suicidal Behaviour in Prison Settings

2025-10-07T23:32:22+02:00

Suicidal behaviour among prisoners is one of the most challenging issues facing the prison system, as isolation, violence, mental disorders and a lack of social support generate an environment conducive to the escalation of suicidal thoughts and attempts. In Poland, there is still a lack of comprehensive analyses combining the penitentiary and post-penitentiary perspectives on this phenomenon. The aim of this article is to identify risk factors for suicidal behaviour in prison isolation and after release from penitentiary units. The analysis is based on desk research, including statistical data, reports from penitentiary institutions, normative acts, and the results of domestic and foreign studies. Suicidal behaviour in prisons is multifactorial. Age, sex, mental disorders, traumatic experiences, stage of imprisonment, overcrowding, isolation, lack of contact with loved ones and such social crises as the COVID-19 pandemic are all relevant factors. The period immediately after release from prison is also associated with a high risk. Effective suicide prevention in penitentiary units requires regular risk monitoring, staff training, early identification of threats, and ensuring that psychological suport is continued after the sentence is served.

Register of Extraordinary Events as a New Form of Safeguarding the Rights of Older Adults Residing in Residential Care Homes

2025-10-24T14:39:39+02:00

The occurrence of extraordinary and/or adverse events in residential care homes was the primary rationale behind the legislator’s decision to introduce the mandatory maintenance of a register of such events. This was intended not only as a supervisory measure but also as an additional safeguard for residents (including older people) of care homes. The aim of this article was to assess the outcomes of the implemented instrument after its first year of operation and to answer the question: what are the effects of maintaining the register of extraordinary events, based on the registers from the Podlaskie and West Pomeranian regions? The article is based on an analysis of existing data and legal acts. The analysis of the events recorded in the registers showed that accidents constituted the most frequent category of extraordinary events reported by residential care homes. Among these, residents’ falls were reported most often. An examination of event descriptions indicated that most falls occurred in corridors, bathrooms, and residents’ rooms. The conducted analyses demonstrated that, in its current form, the obligation to report extraordinary events primarily serves reporting and supervisory functions. However, there is a noticeable need to refine the statutory provisions – both in terms of which events should be subject to mandatory reporting and with regard to the types and scope of follow-up actions.

The Role of Values in Students’ Psychosocial Coping with Stress

2025-11-04T16:22:49+01:00

This article presents an assessment of key academic values that enhance students’ academic effectiveness and coping with stress resulting from functioning in the academic community. It provides valuable knowledge that allows for a better understanding of aspects contributing to students’ full engagement in learning and academic activities. The main objective of the study was to identify the relationships between socio-organizational factors in the academic environment and the coping strategies used by students to deal with stress. The study group consisted of 1210 students from the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. The research was conducted using a tool analyzing the importance of key areas of university functioning – the Assessment of Socio-Organizational Factors in the Academic Environment (a proprietary tool), and the Mini-COPE, which examines stress coping strategies. A supportive academic environment contributes to students’ active coping with stress and seeking support, while reducing the tendency to feel helpless. Interpersonal relationships, autonomy, and task clarity are key protective factors in stressful academic situations. The conducted research provides guidance on how to identify students’ needs and expectations and how to support them in their psychosocial functioning by developing effective methods of coping with stress.

Rec.: Janusz Mariański, Doświadczenie religijne w narracji socjologicznej. Studium teoretyczno-empiryczne, Wydawnictwo Adam Marszałek, Toruń 2025, ss. 265.

2025-09-25T17:35:41+02:00