Kontakt 2015, 17(1):e48-e56 | DOI: 10.1016/j.kontakt.2015.01.002

Effect of selected social conditions on the health of Slovakians living in the Czech RepublicSocial Sciences - Original article

Jana Gabrielová^a,b,*, Iva Brabcová^c

^a Jihočeská univerzita v Českých Budějovicích, Zdravotně sociální fakulta, katedra klinických a preklinických oborů

^b Jihočeská univerzita v Českých Budějovicích, Zdravotně sociální fakulta, katedra sociální práce

^c Jihočeská univerzita v Českých Budějovicích, Zdravotně sociální fakulta, katedra ošetřovatelství a porodní asistence

Current state: This article focuses on the analysis of selected social conditions of Slovakian immigrants living in the Czech Republic.

Objective: The aim of the research was to describe the social situations of Slovakians living in the Czech Republic and to find links between their social situation and personal health. In accordance with the main objective of the research, we formulated research questions related to the concepts of social status, socioeconomic status, language skills and social support.

Methods: Structured interviews were used for data collecting. Interviews were transcribed and then coded. The research sample consisted of 16 Slovakian immigrants, 11 women and 5 men.

Results: Slovakians living in the Czech Republic subjectively rated their health as good. Correlations between the subjective perception of health and the selected social conditions have been demonstrated by education and employment status. There was no correlation demonstrated between the subjective perception of health status and knowledge of the Czech language. Similarly, no correlation has been demonstrated between social support and one's subjective perception of personal health status.

Conclusion: Research has shown that Slovakians living in the Czech Republic feel well and are accepted among the Czechs. They enjoy social support at all levels and are integrated into the Czech society. With respect to the results of this research, it would be useful when conducting further research, to pay attention to how Slovakians living in the Czech Republic perceive themselves, whether they feel themselves as being foreigners or not, and how they are perceived by the Czech citizens. It would be useful to focus further research on the confirmation of the possible correlations between the objective assessment of health status and selected social conditions.

Keywords: Immigrants; Socio-professional status; Social status; Slovaks; Health

Received: June 9, 2014; Revised: September 30, 2014; Accepted: January 19, 2015; Published: March 10, 2015  Show citation