Mental Health Determinants in Turkey: Investigating an Extensive List of Variables

Year 2021, Volume: 11 Issue: 2, 47 - 69, 15.06.2021

Abdullah Tirgil

Abstract

Bu çalışma ruh sağlığı belirleyicilerini; sosyodemografik faktörleri, bireylerin sağlık ve yaşam tarzı seçimlerini,ev ve çevresel faktörleri, sosyal sermayeyi ve çalışma ortamını da işin içerisine katarak geniş bir perspektifle elealmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, lineer regresyon modelleri kullanılarak ruh sağlığıyla ilişkili faktörler yetişkin bireyleriçin incelenmektedir. Bunun için Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu tarafından yapılan, 2008-2012 yılları arasını kapsayanve bütün Türkiye için temsil gücü bulunan Türkiye Sağlık Araştırması anketi verileri temel alınmıştır. Bulgularımızagöre, erkeklerin kadınlara kıyasla ruh sağlığı bakımından daha yüksek skora sahip oldukları ortaya çıkmaktadır.Çevredeki ses ve gürültü, ev veya çevredeki şiddet ve suçların özellikle kadınlarda düşük ruh sağlığı skoruyla ilişkiliolduğu gözlemlenmiştir. Bunun yanında iş sahibi olmanın sadece erkeklerin ruh sağlığını olumlu etkilediği görülmüştür. Diğer önemli bir sonuç ise, hane halkı gelirinin, kişinin sağlığı ve çevresinde güvenebileceği insanlarınolması gibi parasal olmayan faktörlere nazaran ruh sağlığını çok az ölçüde etkilediğinin gözlemlenmesidir. Ayrıcaişyerinde maruz kalınan ayrımcılık ve kaba davranışların her iki cinsiyetin ruh sağlığını olumsuz yönde etkilediğigözlemlenmiştir. Araştırmamızdan çıkan sonuçlar başkalarına güven, sağlık, evde, iş yerinde ve çevrede huzurlubir ortamın oluşturulması gibi maddi olmayan değerlerin kişilerin hayatında fark yaratacağı sonucuna işaret eder.

Keywords

Depresyon, ruh sağlığı, yaşam tarzı, sosyal sermaye, parasal faktörler, parasal olmayan değişkenler, MHİ-5, Türkiye Sağlık Araştırması.

Mental Health Determinants in Turkey: Investigating an Extensive List of Variables

Abstract

This study examines the determinants of mental health in Turkey over a broad perspective including sociodemographic factors, health/lifestyle choices, home/neighborhood environment, social interactions, and work place environment in Turkey. We implement a linear regression model to analyze the factors associated with mental well-being among adults. For this purpose, we utilize individual-level data obtained from the Turkey Health Surveys implemented by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) between 2008-2012. Our results suggest mento report a higher mental health score than women despite controlling for a broad set of observable characteristics. Exposure to noise, violence, and crime at home or in the neighborhood are significantly related to lower mental health scores, especially for women. In contrast, employment is only associated with higher mental health scores formen. Importantly, household income does not appear to be as crucial as non-financial variables such as good health and having someone to trust in case of a severe problem. In addition, rude behavior and discrimination at workplace negatively affect mental well-being for both women and men. We suggest promoting non-financial variables such astrust in others, good health, and a peaceful environment at home, at work, and in the neighborhood in people’s lives.

Keywords

Depression, mental well-being, lifestyle, social capital, financial factors, non-financial variables, Mental Health Inventory-5, Turkey, Turkey Health Survey

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