ECONOMIC DISTRESS, SOCIAL SUPPORT, AND DEPRESSION IN TURKEY

Abstract

Using data from a sample of 1100 married couples residing in urban Turkey, we examine the effects of economic hardship, household economic strain, and social support on depressive symptoms. Since previous literature showed gender differences in these relationships, the analysis is conducted separately on husbands and wives. Controlling for socio-demographic characteristics, we find that job loss is associated with higher depressive symptoms as measured by a modified CES-D index of depression, the effects of which are largely mediated by the resulting economic strain on the household. Contrary to much of the previous literature showing social support to promote better mental health outcomes, we found that the effect of financial and in-kind support depends the amount received relative to need. Those men receiving insufficient support have significantly higher CES-D scores, even higher than those not receiving any support when needed. There is no significant association between receipt of financial support and female CES-D scores. For both men and women, receipt of in-kind support is associated with significantly higher CES-D scores. The results are discussed in light of previous literature linking economic distress, social support and mental health outcomes.

Keywords

• Turkey
• Global economic crisis
• Economic distress
• Economic hardship
• Social support
• CES-D

Ekonomik Sıkıntı, Sosyal Destek ve Depresyon: Türkiye Örneği

Abstract

Bu çalışmada, kentsel Türkiye’de yaşayan 1100 evli çiftten toplanan bir örneklemle, ekonomik zorluk, hanede yaşanan ekonomik sıkıntı, ve sosyal desteğin depresyon ile olan ilişkisi incelenmektedir. Bu konuda yapılmış önceki çalışmalar cinsiyet farklılıkları ortaya koyduğu için, analizler her iki eş için de ayrı olarak yapılmıştır. Çoklu regresyon analizleri sonucunda, hanenin sosyo-demografik özelliklerin etkilerinden arındırıldığında, iş kaybının, CES-D depresyon indeksi ile ölçülen, depresyon üzerinde kuvvetli pozitif etkisi olduğu görülmüştür. Bu pozitif etki, dolaylı olarak hanede yaşanan ekonomik sıkıntıdan kaynaklanmaktadır. Daha önceki çalışmalarda ortaya konduğunun aksine, sosyal destek almanın ruh sağlığı açısından pozitif bir etkisi görülmemiştir. Nakdi ve ayni sosyal desteğin etkisi, ihtiyaca karşılık ne kadar alınabildiği ile bağlantılıdır. Yetersiz nakdi destek aldığını belirten erkeklerin depresyon puanları, ihtiyacı olduğu halde yardım alamamış erkeklere göre istatistiksel olarak dah yüksektir. Kadınlardaysa nakdi desteğin depresyon üzerinde bir etkisi görülmemiştir. Ayni desteğin hem erkeklerde hem de kadınlarda kuvvetli pozitif etkisi görülmüştür. Bulgular ekonomik sıkıntı, sosyal destek ve ruh sağlığını ilişkilendiren literatürün önceki bulguları ışığında değerlendirilmiştir.

Keywords

• Türkiye
• Ekonomik kriz
• Ekonomik sıkıntı
• Ekonomik zorluk
• Sosyal destek
• Depresyon

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