ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIM: Mental disorders constitute a significant public health concern, contributing significantly to the overall disease burden. Individuals experiencing mental distress often delay or avoid seeking psychological help or do not seek help due to varying factors. This study examines the factors affecting individuals' preferences, particularly young people, in seeking psychological help in Türkiye. METHODS: This study utilized microdata from the Türkiye Health Survey conducted by TURKSTAT in 2016 and 2019. The factors influencing decisions to consult with a psychologist, psychotherapist, or psychiatrist were determined by multivariate probit regression analysis. The Türkiye Health Survey employed a stratified two-stage cluster sampling method, surveying 17,242 individuals over the age of 15 in 9470 households in 2016 and 17,084 individuals over the age of 15 in 9470 households in 2019. RESULTS: The analysis findings indicated that, in the entire sample, women are more likely to seek psychological help, while younger women are less likely to do so. In the entire sample, as the education level increased, the probability of individuals receiving psychological help increased, while it decreased for young people. It was determined that people who use tobacco and alcohol are more likely to receive psychological help than others. It was also determined that individuals who perceive their health status as good, especially those who are both young and perceive their health status as good, are less likely to seek psychological help. CONCLUSIONS: The significance and impact of the variables on the probability of individuals seeking psychological help vary for both the entire sample and young people. There may be various restrictions in getting psychological help, and people may resort to informal methods instead of professionals to cope with their existing problems. In developing preventive strategies to safeguard mental health, factors related to young people's and individuals' psychological help-seeking status should be prioritized, and more attention should be paid to them.
ABSTRACT
Alcohol and tobacco use are risky factors that are associated with one another. High alcohol and tobacco use are significant public health problems with social and economic costs and one of the leading causes of preventable death and disease. The aim of this study was to determine the sociodemographic and economic factors on alcohol and tobacco concurrent use. In this study, a bivariate probit model was employed to determine the factors affecting alcohol and tobacco concurrent use among individuals aged 15 and above who were living in Turkey. The data used in this study was obtained from the Turkey Health Survey conducted in 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016 by the Turkish Statistical Institute. The data were gathered from a total of 77,327 individuals. Empirical findings suggest that factors affecting alcohol and tobacco use were simultaneous. Also, the results revealed that several key variables such as age, gender, educational status, marital status, household monthly income level, and survey year were significant determinants of alcohol and tobacco concurrent use. Psychosocial support is significant for only tobacco use. In the last decade, a number of restrictions aimed to combat alcohol and tobacco use have been associated with reducing the usage habits of individuals. This is the first study that simultaneously compared both alcohol use and tobacco use using a Turkish sample.
Subject(s)
Nicotiana , Tobacco Use , Alcohol Drinking/epidemiology , Health Surveys , Humans , Tobacco Use/epidemiology , Turkey/epidemiologyABSTRACT
The aim of this study is to specify factors influencing tobacco consumption in Turkey, which belongs to developing countries group, and to determine the extent of their influence. Factors related to the sociodemographic, economic, personal, environmental, and healthy life indicators influencing tobacco consumption in Turkey were determined using logistic and probit regression analyses. According to the results of the study, age, gender, education, marital status, fruit consumption, exposure to tobacco smoke at home, and frequent of alcohol consumption are the most influential variables effecting tobacco consumption. More effective results in policies aimed at preventing tobacco consumption can be accomplished by giving priority to individuals more inclined to tobacco consumption. People in 25-44 age group, men, graduates of high school and its equivalents, divorced/widowed individuals, individuals exposed to tobacco smoke, and alcohol users are individuals who tend to use tobacco.
