A Qualitative Study on Problems of Young  People and Ways of Religious Coping in Türkiye

Murat Çinici

Article Details

A Qualitative Study on Problems of Young People and Ways of Religious Coping in Türkiye

Authors:

Murat Çinici

Publisher:

Ataturk University

Main Topics:

Din Psikolojisi

Journal:

İlahiyat Tetkikleri Dergisi Issue 62, pp.101-118

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2024

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001326647

pISSN:

2458-7508

Keywords:

Abstract:

 The aim of the research is to investigate the problems young people face in Turkey and to examine the religious coping mechanisms they use to cope with these problems. A total of 353 students from Turkey participated, including 190 high school and 163 university students. The research, conducted in April 2024, employed two different methods for data collection: Written data were gathered directly from high school students through interviews, while questionnaires were distributed to university students and collected by the researcher. We used semi-structured interviews based on a specific framework, asking participants three comprehensive, open-ended questions. After conducting a content analysis on the data, the researcher categorized the data thematically according to the content. According to the findings of the research based on the available data, the problems faced by young people are classified under three main headings: individual, social and existential issues. Individual problems included gender roles, sexuality, religious doubts, stress, addiction, and loneliness. Social problems consist of local and popular culture, violence, concerns about the future, difficulties in finding a profession, the education process, marriage, and family communication. Existential problems include such issues as the meaning of life, death, and belief in God. The study revealed that young people often resort to religious coping strategies to handle these challenges. Among these strategies, such practices as trusting and believing in Allah, prayer salat and supplication dua, expressing gratitude, repentance, ablution, going to the mosque, reading the Quran, participating in religious conversations and volunteering services become prominent. As a result, it was determined that religious coping strategies are an important part of the daily lives of young people in Turkey and that these strategies play an important role in coping with individual, social, and existential challenges. Unlike studies that generally address psychological or social elements, this research highlights the role of religious practices as a coping mechanism.

 The aim of the research is to investigate the problems young people face in Turkey and to examine the religious coping mechanisms they use to cope with these problems. A total of 353 students from Turkey participated, including 190 high school and 163 university students. The research, conducted in April 2024, employed two different methods for data collection: Written data were gathered directly from high school students through interviews, while questionnaires were distributed to university students and collected by the researcher. We used semi-structured interviews based on a specific framework, asking participants three comprehensive, open-ended questions. After conducting a content analysis on the data, the researcher categorized the data thematically according to the content. According to the findings of the research based on the available data, the problems faced by young people are classified under three main headings: individual, social and existential issues. Individual problems included gender roles, sexuality, religious doubts, stress, addiction, and loneliness. Social problems consist of local and popular culture, violence, concerns about the future, difficulties in finding a profession, the education process, marriage, and family communication. Existential problems include such issues as the meaning of life, death, and belief in God. The study revealed that young people often resort to religious coping strategies to handle these challenges. Among these strategies, such practices as trusting and believing in Allah, prayer salat and supplication dua, expressing gratitude, repentance, ablution, going to the mosque, reading the Quran, participating in religious conversations and volunteering services become prominent. As a result, it was determined that religious coping strategies are an important part of the daily lives of young people in Turkey and that these strategies play an important role in coping with individual, social, and existential challenges. Unlike studies that generally address psychological or social elements, this research highlights the role of religious practices as a coping mechanism.

 The aim of the research is to investigate the problems young people face in Turkey and to examine the religious coping mechanisms they use to cope with these problems. A total of 353 students from Turkey participated, including 190 high school and 163 university students. The research, conducted in April 2024, employed two different methods for data collection: Written data were gathered directly from high school students through interviews, while questionnaires were distributed to university students and collected by the researcher. We used semi-structured interviews based on a specific framework, asking participants three comprehensive, open-ended questions. After conducting a content analysis on the data, the researcher categorized the data thematically according to the content. According to the findings of the research based on the available data, the problems faced by young people are classified under three main headings: individual, social and existential issues. Individual problems included gender roles, sexuality, religious doubts, stress, addiction, and loneliness. Social problems consist of local and popular culture, violence, concerns about the future, difficulties in finding a profession, the education process, marriage, and family communication. Existential problems include such issues as the meaning of life, death, and belief in God. The study revealed that young people often resort to religious coping strategies to handle these challenges. Among these strategies, such practices as trusting and believing in Allah, prayer salat and supplication dua, expressing gratitude, repentance, ablution, going to the mosque, reading the Quran, participating in religious conversations and volunteering services become prominent. As a result, it was determined that religious coping strategies are an important part of the daily lives of young people in Turkey and that these strategies play an important role in coping with individual, social, and existential challenges. Unlike studies that generally address psychological or social elements, this research highlights the role of religious practices as a coping mechanism.

 Araştırmanın amacı Türkiyedeki genç bireylerin karşılaştıkları sorunları araştırmak ve bu sorunlarla başa çıkmak için kullandıkları dini başa çıkma mekanizmalarını incelemektir. Türkiyeden 190 lise ve 163 üniversite öğrencisi olmak üzere toplam 353 öğrenci katılmıştır. Nisan 2024te gerçekleştirilen çalışmada, veriler iki farklı yöntemle toplanmıştır: Lise öğrencilerinden doğrudan görüşme yoluyla yazılı veriler alınırken, üniversite öğrencilerine anket formu dağıtılmış ve bu formlar araştırmacı tarafından toplanmıştır. Araştırmada, belirli bir çerçeveye dayalı esnek görüşmeler kullanılmış olup, katılımcılara üç kapsamlı ve açık uçlu soru sorulmuştur. İçerik analizi yöntemiyle veriler incelendikten sonra, araştırmacı tarafından içeriğe göre temalara ayrılmıştır. Eldeki verilerden hareketle araştırmanın bulgularına göre gençlerin karşılaştığı sorunlar üç ana başlık altında sınıflandırılmıştır: bireysel, toplumsal ve varoluşsal problemler. Bireysel sorunlar; cinsiyet rolleri, cinsellik, dini şüpheler, stres, bağımlılık ve yalnızlık şeklindedir. Toplumsal sorunlar; yerel ve popüler kültür, şiddet, gelecek kaygısı, iş bulma zorlukları, eğitim süreci, evlilik ve aile içi iletişimden oluşmaktadır. Varoluşsal sorunlar ise yaşamın anlamı, ölüm ve Tanrı inancı gibi konuları içermektedir. Araştırma gençlerin bu sorunlarla başa çıkmada, dini başa çıkma stratejilerine başvurduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Bu stratejiler arasında Allaha güvenmek ve inanmak, namaz ve dua, şükür, tövbe, abdest, camiye gitmek, Kuran okumak, dini sohbetlere ve gönüllülük hizmetlerine katılmak gibi uygulamalar öne çıkmaktadır. Sonuç olarak dini başa çıkma stratejilerinin Türkiyedeki gençlerin günlük yaşamlarının önemli bir parçası olduğu ve bu stratejilerin bireysel, toplumsal ve varoluşsal zorluklarla mücadelede önemli bir rol oynadığı tespit edilmiştir. Bu araştırma, genellikle psikolojik veya sosyal unsurları ele alan çalışmalardan farklı olarak dini uygulamaların bir başa çıkma mekanizması olarak üstlendiği rolü ön plana çıkarmaktadır.

Article Details

A Qualitative Study on Problems of Young People and Ways of Religious Coping in Türkiye

Authors:

Murat Çinici

Publisher:

Ataturk University

Main Topics:

Din Psikolojisi

Journal:

İlahiyat Tetkikleri Dergisi Issue 62, pp.101-118

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2024

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001326647

pISSN:

2458-7508

Psychology of Religion

Turkey

Youth

Religious Coping

Religious PracticeDin Psikolojisi

Türkiye

Gençlik

Dini Başa Çıkma

Dini Pratik

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Murat Çinici

Publisher: Ataturk University

Main Topics: Din Psikolojisi

Journal: İlahiyat Tetkikleri Dergisi Issue 62, pp.101-118

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 12/2024

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 2001326647

pISSN: 2458-7508

Issues

Authors:

Murat Çinici

Publisher:

Ataturk University

Main Topics:

Din Psikolojisi

Journal:

İlahiyat Tetkikleri Dergisi Issue 62, pp.101-118

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2024

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001326647

pISSN:

2458-7508