Hope in the Pandemic: Multidimensional Factors Behind Individuals' Sense of Hope with the Example of Turkey

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has not only affected individuals and societies physically, but has also resulted in a series of mental health problems, given the course of the disease, the speed at which it spread, and the measures taken in response to its rapid spread. Many studies have reported that hope can be an important factor in mitigating the mental health impacts of the pandemic. The present study aims to identify the factors affecting hope during the pandemic. The dataset of the study is the microdata from the Life Satisfaction Survey obtained from the Turkish Statistical Institute. This survey is conducted by an official institution. The sample size of the study is designed to produce estimates on a Turkish basis and the sampling method is a two-stage stratified cluster sampling. 20,176 people were included in the study. For the a priori analysis of the dataset, chi-square independence tests were used followed by binary logistic regression and binary probit regression models from discrete choice models. As a result of the study, it was determined that age, marital status, education level, satisfaction with income level, income change, welfare level, debt status, happiness level, satisfaction with health services, satisfaction with health, satisfaction with education, satisfaction with social life, satisfaction with personal care, feeling safe, environmental awareness, being involved in religion, and experiencing gender pressure are effective on individuals' hopes for their future. It has been determined that individuals with a positive socioeconomic level, who do not experience gender pressure, who can spare time for personal care, who are satisfied with health services, who are healthy, who are happy, who have environmental awareness, who feel safe in the region they live in, who are satisfied with the education they receive, and who are satisfied with their social life are more hopeful about the future. Among these factors, happiness level, welfare level, and feeling safe were found to be strong predictors of hope. Addressing the factors that positively affect individuals' hopefulness for the future, particularly by decision-makers and policymakers, will contribute to the establishment of a better social structure.