PSYCHOLOGICAL RESILIENCE AND QUALITY OF LIFE: DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PRIMARY SCHOOL AND MUSIC SCHOOL STUDENTS

The aim of this research was to see if there is a difference in the psychological resilience and quality of life of pupils attending elementary school and pupils attending both elementary school and elementary music school. The research also examined the potential gender differences in the results with respect to the school the pupils attended. The research included pupils of comparable age - those in the final years of elementary school and in the final years of elementary music school. The convenience sample consisted of a total of 218 pupils (112 elementary school pupils and 106 pupils who attend both elementary school and elementary music school). Ungar's Child and Youth Resilience Measure (CYRM-28) was used, as well as the Croatian version of the Kidscreen Questionaire-52 (KIDS). The results are presented through descriptive statistics and processed by a two-way analysis of variance. The results show that pupils who attend both elementary school and elementary music school are more resilient with better life adjustment than pupils who attend only elementary school. There were no gender differences with respect to the school that the pupils attended. The results of the research show engagement in music as a potential protective factor in the development of psychological resilience and life adjustment in children.