Polyvagal perspective on ethnic distance and well-being in Bosnia-Herzegovina : mediating effects of physiological reactivity and body awareness

Kuhar, Metka (author), Bolko, Irena (author), Zupančič, Rok (author)

In this study, the responses of 182 Bosniaks were analysed to examine the interplay between previous adversity (past challenging or traumatic experiences a person has faced), mental well-being, and ethnic distance in Bosnia and Herzegovina through the lens of polyvagal theory, which emphasises the role of physiological reactivity and body awareness. The results show that there is no direct association between past adversity and well-being or ethnic distance. However, previous adversity is a significant predictor of autonomic reactivity and body awareness, which serve as mediators of well-being and ethnic distance. These findings point to the potential benefits of trauma-informed interventions to improve social cohesion in post-conflict settings.

• Language: English
• Keywords: polyvagal theory, ethnic distance, mental well-being, adversity, autonomic reactivity, body awareness, Bosnia-Herzegovina
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FDV - Faculty of Social Sciences
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2024
• Number of pages: Str. 139-159
• Numbering: No. 92
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-163473
• UDC: 316.4
• ISSN on article: 0354-0286
• DOI: 10.2478/tdjes-2024-0008
• COBISS.SI-ID: 200245763
• Publication date in RUL: 07.10.2024

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Razprave in gradivo : revija za narodnostna vprašanja
• Shortened title: Razpr. gradivo - Inšt. nar. vpraš.
• Publisher: Inštitut za narodnostna vprašanja, = Institute for Ethnic Studies
• ISSN: 0354-0286
• COBISS.SI-ID: 23045378

Licences

• License: CC BY-NC-ND 3.0, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/
• Description: You are free to reproduce and redistribute the material in any medium or format. You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. You may not use the material for commercial purposes. If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you may not distribute the modified material. You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Polivagalna perspektiva etnične distance in blagostanja v Bosni in Hercegovini

Abstract

V študiji na vzorcu 182 Bošnjakinj in Bošnjakov proučujemo medsebojen vpliv preteklih obremenjujočih izkušenj (težkih ali travmatičnih izkušenj, s katerimi se je posameznik soočil v preteklosti), duševnega blagostanja in etnične distance v Bosni in Hercegovini skozi prizmo polivagalne teorije, ki poudarja vlogo fiziološke reaktivnosti in telesnega zavedanja. Rezultati kažejo, da med preteklimi obremenjujočimi izkušnjami, duševnim blagostanjem ali etnično distanco ni neposredne povezave, so pa pretekle obremenjujoče izkušnje pomemben napovednik avtonomne reaktivnosti in telesnega zavedanja kot mediatorjev blagostanja in etnične distance. Ugotovitve študije kažejo, da so intervencije, utemeljene na razumevanju travme, lahko potencialno koristne za izboljšanje družbene kohezivnosti v pokonfliktnih okoljih.

• Keywords: polivagalna teorija, etnična distanca, duševno blagostanje, stiska, avtonomna reaktivnost, telesno zavedanje, Bosna in Hercegovina

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: N5-0178
• Name: Anksioznost(i) v 'razdeljenih mestih' pokonfliktnih družb: razvoj in testiranje inovativnih (eksperimentalnih) pristopov v procesih izgradnje miru

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: P5-0206
• Name: Obramboslovje