Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
The Journal of Academic Social Science(EBSCO), cilt.11, sa.136, ss.1-25, 2023 (Hakemli Dergi)
DEEP POVERTY AND ITS PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS: A MIXED METHOD STUDY ON ADULT OPINIONS
Abstract
The study aims to get the opinions about poverty of adults living in deep poverty
and to explore their levels of happiness and life satisfaction. The study group
consists of a total of 24 individuals living in Istanbul with a monthly income of
1000-4300 TL. The data collection instruments used include a “Personal
Information Form”, a “Questionnaire”, the “Happiness Scale”,and the “Life
Satisfaction Scale”. The responses of the poor individuals to the Questionnaire
were qualitatively analyzed via descriptive analysis and their responses to the
scales were quantitatively analyzed by percentage and frequency calculations. As a
result of the study, the individuals living in deep poverty stated that they think they
cannot afford their demands and needs for food and housing and cannot live the life
they want; emotionally they envy and covet everythingand felt ashamed,
embarrassed, anxious, afraid, worried, angry, furious, unhappy, sad, uneasy,
distressed, worthless, overwhelmed, desperate, and insecure; psychologically they
feel awful like “they hit the rock bottom”, “they are going out of their mind”, “they
are about to go mad” and “they are always upset and depressed”; that they have
grown away from their spouses and children and become distant to their friends
and relatives; they believe that poverty is awful; and employment opportunities
should be increased, manufacturing should be subsidized, no price increases should
be made and a good government should be in power to reduce poverty. The
participants were found to have extremely low levels of happiness and life
satisfaction. The study results are discussed in the light of the literature.
Keywords: Deep Poverty, Psychological Effects, Happiness, Life
Satisfaction