UNDERSTANDING THE VEGAN EXPERIENCE IN TÜRKİYE: A QUALITATIVE EXPLORATION OF MOTIVATIONS, CHALLENGES, AND BARRIERS

Date

2026-8-12

Author

Anning, Tiffany

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As veganism gains greater attention worldwide, researchers have become more interested in understanding why individuals adopt the lifestyle and how they manage the challenges involved in maintaining it. However, much of the existing research has focused on Western populations, offering little insight into the vegan experience in developing, non-Western countries. This qualitative phenomenological study addresses that gap through semi-structured interviews with 16 self-identified vegans in Türkiye. The findings show that ethical concerns about animal welfare were the primary motivation for adopting a vegan lifestyle, while concerns about environmental sustainability and personal health played a smaller role. Participants also faced limited product availability, financial constraints, and social and cultural pressures surrounding food. Despite these barriers, they maintained their lifestyles through planning, adapting familiar meals, adjusting daily routines, and seeking support from other vegans. By focusing on Türkiye, the study provides a context-specific understanding of how veganism is adopted and sustained and offers practical insights for researchers, businesses, and organizations.

Subject Keywords

ethical consumerism, animal welfare, thematic analysis, vegan experience, Türkiye

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11511/120039

Collections

Graduate School of Social Sciences, Thesis