Daily Life Methods in Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood Studies in Croatia, Serbia, and Slovenia: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Daily life methods are a novel approach that grasps dynamics when studying various research topics. Although several international systematic reviews and meta-analyses demonstrate their popularity in studies of adolescence, it remains unclear whether daily life methods are also used to study development in different cultures. Therefore, the main aim of this review is to examine the frequency of use of daily life methods in studies of adolescence and emerging adulthood published in Croatian, Serbian, and Slovenian journals. Based on two inclusion criteria, with one being that a study should implement an experience sampling method or an ecological momentary assessment, and the other being that participants should be younger than 30 years, a search of five regional databases yielded only six research papers. The included studies implemented an experience sampling method, following recommendations from the literature. Thus, daily life methods do not yet seem to be recognized in Croatia, Serbia, and Slovenia, and efforts should be made to promote them to both researchers and practitioners. These methods can not only help us understand the differences between people, as well as the changes within a person, but they can also be the basis for tailored interventions, such as changing eating and sleeping habits.