Economic situation and intentions to leave home country: mediation effects of rootedness and normative beliefs

Abstract

Several studies have indicated that students’ tendencies to leave the home country are strongly driven by economic conditions. However, despite similar economic conditions some individuals are more likely to do so than others. Aim: To explore mediation effects of rootedness and normative beliefs (NB) on the relationship between perceived economic situation and a plan to leave the home country. The data were collected using a web platform from 375 university students (76% girls; M=22.9) at 18 universities in Slovakia. Rootedness (desire for change and home/family) and NB were measured by 10 and 13 item scales, respectively. The level of perceived economic situation and the plan to leave the country were measured by specific questions. Regression and mediation analyses were used for data analysis in SPSS 21. More than 53% of students perceived their economic situation regarding their professional and family situation as rather pessimistic and 12% as very pessimistic. These students were significantly more likely to have plan to leave their country after university studies (β= .187; p=.0003). The mediation effect was confirmed as both the rootedness (desire for change) (β= .237; p=.0004) and NB (β= .067; p=.033) mediated the relationship between perceived economic situation and the plan to leave their country. The results showed that those students who perceived their economic situation negatively in home country were more likely to have plan to leave the country after their study at university. However, this relationship is fully mediated through the desire for change tendency and partially through normative beliefs.