SHRINKING HORIZONS: AN INVESTIGATION ON ATTITUDES TOWARDS BRAIN DRAIN OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN TÜRKİYE THROUGH RELATIVE DEPRIVATION AND SOCIAL SUPPORT

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2024-4-3
Yeşil, Mehmet Emre
The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between the perceived relative deprivation and the attitudes towards brain drain among university students in Türkiye. Additionally, it aims to investigate the moderating effect of perceived social support on this relationship. Perceived relative deprivation refers to individuals comparing their opportunities with those of their nearby peers, leading to a sense of deprivation arising from these comparisons. Various studies have demonstrated the impact of perceived relative deprivation on individuals' quality of life across characteristics such as psychological well-being, self-confidence, ability to cope with difficulties, and overall life satisfaction. Brain drain, a phenomenon that has long been recognized in Türkiye, is also influenced by similar psychological variables in this particular situation. Brain drain is the migration of educated, highly skilled people from their current country to more developed countries in order to achieve better living conditions. Perceived social support, another variable discussed within the scope of the study, refers to the social support people receive from their close circle. This support has been seen in many studies as a soothing factor when people face stress and life difficulties. Within the scope of the research, it was expected that as the perceived relative deprivation levels of the people increased, their attitudes towards brain drain would be positively affected, by the sample consisting of students actively studying at the university level in Türkiye. In addition, it was predicted that people's perceived social support would have a moderating effect on this relationship. Within the scope of the research, data suitable for analysis was collected from a total of 378 people. The results confirmed the first hypothesis, the relationship between perceived relative deprivation and brain drain attitudes, while the moderating effect of perceived social support did not appear to have statistical significance. The research results and findings are discussed in detail in the discussion section. This study aims to draw attention to the existence of an important problem through the attitudes of young people in Türkiye towards brain drain. As a result, it is expected to shed light on the literature and help institutions in taking regulatory measures for a solution.
Citation Formats
M. E. Yeşil, “SHRINKING HORIZONS: AN INVESTIGATION ON ATTITUDES TOWARDS BRAIN DRAIN OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN TÜRKİYE THROUGH RELATIVE DEPRIVATION AND SOCIAL SUPPORT,” M.S. - Master of Science, Middle East Technical University, 2024.