Dumlupınar Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi 1302-1842 2587-005X Kütahya Dumlupınar Üniversitesi Human Resources Management Leadership Organizational Culture Organisational Behaviour İnsan Kaynakları Yönetimi Liderlik Örgüt Kültürü Örgütsel Davranış Z Kuşağının Liderlik Gelişimini Şekillendiren Yaşam Mücadeleleri: Nitel Bir Araştırma Life Challenges Shaping the Leadership Development of Generation Z: A Qualitative Study https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3474-5073 Mücevher Muhammet Hamdi ısparta uygulamalı bilimler üniversitesi 04 30 2026 89 396 415 02 01 2026 04 29 2026 Copyright © 1999, Dumlupınar Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi 1999 Dumlupınar Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi

Liderlik gelişimi, bilgi ve teknik yeterliliğin yanında yaşanan zorlukları anlamlandırma, zorluklardan öğrenme ve dönüşüm oluşturabilme kapasitesi ile de biçimlenen bir süreçtir. Sosyal, ekonomik ve kültürel gelişmelerin çok hızlı yaşandığı bir zamanda büyüyen z kuşağı, değişik yaşam mücadeleleriyle erken yaşlarda yüz yüze gelmektedir. Bu mücadeleler, Z Kuşağının bireysel gelişim süreçlerini fazlasıyla şekillendirmektedir. Bu araştırmanın ana amacı, Z Kuşağına üye bireylerin yaşam mücadelelerinin niteliğini inceleyerek liderlik becerilerinin gelişimine nasıl katkı sunduğunu tespit etmektir.Araştırmada, nitel araştırma yöntemi benimsenmiş olup 345 Z Kuşağına mensup bireyden yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme formu vasıtasıyla toplanan veriler, tematik analiz tekniği ile değerlendirilmiştir. Bulgular, Z Kuşağı bireylerinin yaşam mücadelelerini beş temel temada tanımladıklarını göstermektedir: “Ailevi ve erken yaşam yükümlülükleri”, “Ekonomik güçlükler ve çalışma mücadeleleri”, “Akademik ve performans baskıları”, “Sağlık ve psikolojik sorunlar” ile “Toplumsal kriz, göç ve uyum deneyimleri”.İlave olarak, Z Kuşağının yaşam mücadelelerinin liderlik gelişimine yansımaları değerlendirildiğinde; “Duygusal dayanıklılık ve öz denetim gelişimi”, “Sosyal yeterlik ve empati becerisi gelişimi”, “Kendini gerçekleştirme ve öz farkındalık gelişimi”, “Motivasyon ve gelecek odaklılık” ve “Krizlerde Liderlik Deneyimi ve Problem Çözme Yeteneği” konularında belirgin bir nitelik kazandıkları anlaşılmaktadır.

Leadership development is shaped not only by knowledge and technical competence but also by the ability to interpret challenges and learn from adversity. Growing up amid rapid social, economic, and cultural change, Generation Z encounters diverse life struggles at an early age, which significantly influence individual development. This study aims to examine the nature of these life struggles and to determine how they contribute to the development of leadership skills among Generation Z individuals.A qualitative research design was employed. Data were collected from 345 Generation Z participants through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings show that life struggles are categorized into five main themes: family-related and early-life responsibilities; economic difficulties and work-related challenges; academic and performance pressures; health and psychological problems; and experiences of social crises, migration, and adaptation.Moreover, these life struggles contribute to leadership development by fostering emotional resilience and self-regulation, social competence and empathy, self-awareness and self-actualization, motivation and future orientation, as well as leadership experience and problem-solving capacity in crisis situations.

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