Life Satisfaction Survey Research Articles

GAIT-CKD (Gait Analysis using Artificial Intelligence for digital Therapeutics of patients with Chronic Kidney Disease): design and methods.

Digital therapeutics are emerging as treatments for diseases and disabilities. In chronic kidney disease (CKD), gait is a potential biomarker for health status and intervention effectiveness. This study aims to analyze gait characteristics in CKD patients, providing baseline data for digital therapeutics development. At baseline and after an 8-week intervention, we performed bioimpedance analysis measurements, the Timed Up and Go, Tinetti, and grip strength tests, and gait analysis in 217 healthy individuals and 276 patients with CKD. Demographic and clinical information was collected, including underlying diseases and medications, laboratory tests, and quality of life satisfaction surveys. Gait analysis was performed using skeleton data, which involved acquiring three-dimensional skeleton data of a walker using a single Kinect sensor. The performance of an artificial intelligence-based classification model in distinguishing between healthy individuals and those with CKD was then investigated. Simultaneously, inertia measurement unit analysis was conducted using measurements taken from the wrist and waist. Most subjects received a health intervention via an app, and their gait was assessed for improvements after an 8-week period. Incidents such as falls, fractures, hospitalizations, and deaths will be investigated in years 1 and 3. This study confirmed that the gaits of healthy individuals and CKD patients were different, and the effect of the 8-week app-based health intervention will be analyzed. The study will yield important baseline data for creating digital therapeutics for CKD patients' diet/exercise in the future.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on satisfaction with healthcare services in Türkiye

ObjectivesThis study aims at evaluating whether the healthcare system in Turkey performed well or not from the perspective of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. MethodsFor this purpose, we compare the satisfaction with healthcare services pre-pandemic and during the pandemic. We utilize the Life Satisfaction Survey conducted by Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) between 2013 and 2021 and employ probit regression method. ResultsThe research results do not show any change in satisfaction with healthcare services in the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021. In addition, the satisfaction with healthcare services of people with health conditions, those without health insurance, and those whose premiums are covered by the state (green card holders) did not decrease during the pandemic period. The analysis results reveal that the satisfaction of people over 65 years old and those having health conditions with healthcare services increased during the pandemic period. ConclusionWhen the findings are evaluated as a whole, we can conclude that Turkey performed well from the users’ perspective during the pandemic. Public interest summaryThis study analyzes the impact of the pandemic on satisfaction with healthcare services in Turkey. To do this, we utilize Life Satisfaction Survey between 2013 and 2021. The regression results indicate that satisfaction with healthcare services has not changed during the pandemic. Moreover, we report an increase in satisfaction scores for elderly and those with health conditions in the pandemic years. We also find satisfaction of people without health insurance, and those whose premiums are covered by the state (green card holders) does not change. Our analysis points Turkey did well in managing pandemic period in terms of healthcare services satisfaction.

Determination of nurses’ happiness, hope, future expectations, and the factors influencing them: a descriptive study that can guide policy development to prevent nurse migration*

BackgroundThe happiness and hopefulness of nurses are not only known that contribute to their emotional well-being but also professional creativity, improve the quality of nursing services and organizational performance. Therefore, knowing which factors affect nurses’ mental well-being and future expectations can provide information for nursing workforce planning policies. This study was conducted to determination of Nurses’ happiness, hope, and future expectations and the factors influencing them.Method326 nurses from 52 provinces of Turkey participated in this descriptive study. The data collection instruments included a Demographic Characteristics Form and questions from the Turkish Statistical Institute’s Life Satisfaction Survey to assess overall happiness, hope, and expectation levels. The study data was collected using an e-survey prepared through Google Forms in line with the principle of voluntarism. In the study adhered to the EQUATOR checklist for descriptive studies.ResultsThe average scores for overall happiness, hope, and future expectations among the participating nurses were found to be 2.34 ± 0.98, 2.22 ± 0.95, and 1.26 ± 0.54, respectively. It was determined that the levels of happiness, hope, and future expectations of nurses are influenced by satisfaction with income, income’s ability to meet needs, and personal development over the last five years.ConclusionThe study concluded that the overall happiness and hope levels of nurses are low, while their future expectations are at a moderate level. Satisfaction with income affects the happiness and hope levels of nurses. Three quarters of the nurses participating in the study want to work abroad. This situation may lead to a need for qualified nurses in the future.

Education and interest in environmental issues in Turkey: Evidence from a compulsory schooling law

ABSTRACT Given the significant impact of individual attitudes in coping with environmental problems, understanding the effects of socioeconomic factors such as education on these attitudes is critical. Utilizing the exogenous variation in educational attainment created by the 1997 education reform in Turkey, I investigate the causal effect of education on individuals’ interest in environmental issues. I apply the fuzzy regression discontinuity design using data from Turkey’s Life Satisfaction Survey. The research provides an insight into the effects of the reform on the schooling behaviour of lower socioeconomic strata. The results indicate that the increase in the proportion of middle school graduates has not changed the interest in environmental issues for men and women in lower socioeconomic positions. The increased likelihood of this group’s exposure to environmental problems, coupled with their reduced capacity to protect themselves, may stimulate interest in environmental issues independent of the effect of education. Furthermore, the increase in economic activities harmful to the environment and the increase in public discourse on environmental issues may also stimulate environmental interest. Since education does not seem to affect environmental interest, targeted policies such as incorporating environmental education into the curriculum may be necessary to enhance environmental interest.

The actual state of life in Korea for married Japanese migrant women -Based on the results of a life satisfaction survey-

The actual state of life in Korea for married Japanese migrant women -Based on the results of a life satisfaction survey-

The relationships between political-economic typology and public service satisfaction: an empirical evidence from Türkiye

PurposeThere are many factors that determine consumers’ satisfaction. Specifically, the current study examines how political-economic views affect the perception of public services. This study also aims to extend the relationship between public service satisfaction and political-economic opinion from an empirical perspective.Design/methodology/approachThe analysis process is carried out with the Microdataset of the Life Satisfaction Survey. Independent sample t-test which compares individual public service satisfaction ratings and ordinal probit regression models assesses the impacts of political-economic attitude on public service satisfaction.FindingsAccording to the findings, household size and gender impact public service satisfaction. Again, service satisfaction diminishes as the education level rises. Moreover, a person’s political-economic view affects their public service satisfaction. The study has the potential to literature in terms of determining society’s political-economic view on public services with these empirical results.Research limitations/implicationsThe study’s use of the state as a point of reference and quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the service exchange between the citizen and the state is a significant difference in the literature. Also, unlike the other studies, this one used microdata to test the relationship between the political-economic type and the level of satisfaction with public services at different levels. It is thought that future studies on the determinants of public service satisfaction, to be carried out in different country samples, will contribute to the field.Practical implicationsThis study has implications on whether the perception of public service varies according to partisanship status.Social implicationsThis study has implications on whether the perception of public service varies according to partisanship status.Originality/valueThis study determines the interaction between the political-economic typology derived from microdata and the satisfaction level variables related to public services offered at different levels. It also evaluates how public service satisfaction differs regarding personality traits and political-economic attitudes.

Social Medical Insurances, Choices of Medical Institutions and the 'Siphon Effect' in the Health Service Market: Evidence from 2021 Yangtze River Delta Region of China.

The siphon effect in the health service market is notably pronounced in many countries. How to measure and identify the determinants contributing to the siphon effect presents a substantial challenge. This study aimed to analyse the effect of two different social medical insurances, the Basic Medical Insurance System for Urban Employees (BMISUE), and the Basic Medical Insurance System for Urban and Rural Residents (BMISURR), on the siphon effect in the health services market. The data used in this study were from the 2021 Health Life Satisfaction Survey of Yangtze River Delta (HLSSYRD) conducted by Shanghai Jiao Tong University. The logistic model was used to evaluate the association between social medical insurances and individual choices of medical institutions, and the Propensity Score Matching method (PSM) was used to check the robustness of basic results. Residents covered by BMISUE were more likely to choose a general hospital when they first sought medical treatment (OR = 5.377, 95% CI: 4.887, 5.915) relative to those insured by BMISURR. Further analysis showed that BMISUE would accelerate the siphon effect of general hospitals, people insured by BMISUE were still more likely to choose general hospitals despite being close to primary hospitals compared to those insured by BMISURR (OR = 3.240, 95% CI: 2.945, 3.565). Heterogeneity analysis indicated BMISUE had a greater impact on residents aged 15-59 years and those with high income compared to older people and individuals with low income. Different social medical insurances can substantially affect residents' first choice of medical institutions. BMISUE with higher benefits level could exacerbate the siphon effect in the health service market. More equitable medical security system should be strengthened to bridge the benefits gap between BMISUE and BMISURR.

Gender and sexual identity-based inequalities in adolescent wellbeing: findings from the #BeeWell Study

BackgroundGender and sexual minority adolescents experience greater symptoms of psychological distress than their peers, but little is known about broader aspects of their wellbeing. This study examines wellbeing inequalities relating to gender and sexual identity among adolescents from Greater Manchester in the United Kingdom.Method37,978 adolescents (aged 12–15, attending 165 secondary schools) completed surveys of life satisfaction, positive and negative affect (hedonic framework); autonomy, self-esteem, optimism, and positive relationships (eudaimonic framework); and, symptoms of distress and mental wellbeing (complete state framework). Structural correlated factors models were used to assess gender and sexual identity wellbeing inequalities.ResultsThe magnitude of wellbeing inequalities pertaining to gender and sexual identity were routinely substantially greater than those concerning other characteristics (e.g., socio-economic disadvantage). Gender identity wellbeing inequalities followed a consistent pattern, with the largest disparities evident between gender diverse adolescents and boys. Sexual identity wellbeing inequalities also followed a consistent pattern, with the largest disparities evident between sexual minority youth (both gay/lesbian and bi/pansexual) and their heterosexual peers. Finally, variation was evident across wellbeing domains. For example, observed gender identity (boys vs. girls) and sexual identity (heterosexual vs. sexual minority) disparities were substantially greater for symptoms of distress than for mental wellbeing in the complete state model.ConclusionsLGBTQ + adolescents experience lower wellbeing than their peers, and this is evident across a range of wellbeing domains. Accordingly, there is an urgent need for the prioritisation of improved prevention and intervention efforts that can better meet the needs of gender diverse and sexual minority youth, and future research should be conducted to improve understanding of the mechanisms underpinning the wellbeing inequalities observed.

Wellbeing Consequences of Unemployment and Working with a Job Dissatisfaction in Turkey

This study aims to answer the following two questions. First, are the unemployed unhappy compared to the employed? Second, are unemployed individuals even unhappier compared to people who are unsatisfied with their job? We utilize the the Life Satisfaction Survey’s individual level data between 2004-2020 period. The LSS survey is a nationally representative survey with more than 324,000 observations in 17 years. Firstly, after controlling for household income, the unemployed have a considerably lower wellbeing than the employed. However, compared to employed people who are dissatisfied with their job, the unemployed’s wellbeing is statistically significantly higher. Thus, it appears that unemployment is a negative life event in Turkey as in elsewhere, but so is working in a toxic job. Moreover, we find strong gender effects as males and particularly married males suffer more from unemployment. Also, a quarter of the unemployed report that they feel social pressure due to unemployment. These findings suggest that social approval plays some role in the impact of unemployment. Our findings imply that societies similar to Turkey in terms of labor market would be better off with some unemployment insurance program as it signals to potential quitters that some unemployment is tolerated by society.

Subjective well-being, satisfaction with public services and election outcomes in Turkey

There is an emerging literature to explain the variation in voting behavior by subjective well-being (or ‘happiness’) measures beyond standard economic and financial variables that economic voting models assert. This paper contributes to this new line of research by testing whether subjective well-being indicators are significant predictors of the June 2015 elections in Turkey. Using the 2013 wave of Life Satisfaction Surveys that is representative at the provincial level, our findings indicate that low levels of subjective well-being (‘discontent’) have a strong predictive power on the outcome of elections at the local level, accounting for provincial demographic and socioeconomic covariates, and possible reverse causality. We also use additional questions on satisfaction with public services and find that the Turkish electorate is more responsive to particular policies of the incumbent party rather than general economic conditions, or their general well-being.

Gender differences in happiness during COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from Türkiye

Mental health is seen as the most basic condition for a good quality of life. Those with a high level of happiness are believed to be healthier and more successful in interpersonal relationships. This study aims to determine the factors associated with the happiness levels of women and men in Türkiye during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, the microdata set obtained from the Life Satisfaction Survey conducted by TURKSTAT in 2020 was utilized. Using generalized ordered logistic regression analysis, the factors associated with the happiness levels of men and women were determined. According to the study’s findings, factors such as age, marital status, level of education, source of happiness (individual), general satisfaction level, level of satisfaction with health, and level of hope for the future are related to the happiness levels of women and men. In the study, it was determined that the importance and effect of the variables vary according to the happiness levels of men and women. It was revealed that employment status and household income were solely associated with the probability of being very happy/happy among men. It was determined that the happiness source (what) and household size variables were only associated with the probability of women being very happy/happy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it may be advantageous to implement initiatives that increase the level of happiness for men and women, strengthen emotional support, and provide better health care.

Determining the factors affecting the happiness levels of divorced individuals by ordered logistics regression analysis

In cases where the dependent variable is categorical and ordinal, the Ordinal Logistic Regression Model is used for model estimation. In order to predict the Ordinal Logistic Regression Model, it must provide the parallel lines assumption. In the study, the happiness levels of divorced individuals were estimated with the ordinal logistic regression model. The data set used in the analysis was obtained from the Life Satisfaction Survey implemented by the Turkish Statistical Institute in 2020. Brant's Wald Test and Likelihood Ratio Test were applied for the parallel lines assumption and the null hypothesis could not be rejected. In this context, the model ordinal logistic regression model was estimated. The statistically significant gender variable shows that divorced women are happier than divorced men. It has been determined that success and job variables tend to decrease happiness levels in divorced individuals compared to other factors. In general, when the education level is examined, it is seen that the level of happiness of divorced individuals increases as the education level increases. It has been concluded that divorced individuals who are satisfied with their health, education, income and social life are happier than divorced individuals who are not satisfied with their health, education, income and social life. It has been determined that divorced individuals are registered with the Social Security Institution and their happiness levels are higher than those who are not registered.

National survey of mental health and life satisfaction of gig workers: the role of loneliness and financial precarity

ObjectivesTo compare the mental health and life satisfaction of those employed in the gig work and contingent work with those in full-time or part-time work and the unemployed in the...

Spatial Analysis of Individuals Life Satisfaction in Turkey Within The Context of Socioeconomic Factors

Özet
 
 Amaç: İktisat biliminin temel argümanlarından biri, kaynakların kıt, ihtiyaçların ise sınırsız olmasıdır. Genel olarak bireylerin yaşamdan beklentilerinin yüksek olabileceği düşünülse de fizyolojik, güvenlik gibi en temel ihtiyaçlarının karşılanması dahi bireylerin yaşam memnuniyet düzeylerini arttırabilmektedir. Bir ülkede sınır komşusu olan bölgelerin sosyoekonomik yapısı benzerlik gösterdiğinden bir bölgede yaşam memnuniyet düzeyindeki değişme, bu bölgeye sınır komşusu olan bölgelerde aynı yönde değişme oluşturacaktır. Bu kapsamda çalışmada bireylerin yaşam memnuniyet düzeyinin Türkiye’nin 26 alt bölgesinin (ikinci düzey Türkiye İstatistiki Bölge Birimleri Sınıflandırması -İBBS-) sınır komşu olan bölgelerinde yayılım gösterip göstermediği ve bireylerin yaşam memnuniyetini etkileyen faktörlerin mekansal veri analiziyle belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. 
 
 Yöntem: Çalışmada Türkiye’nin 26 alt bölgesinde bireylerin yaşam memnuniyet düzeylerinin mekansal bağımlılığı, 2013 yılı için mekansal veri analiziyle araştırılmıştır. Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TÜİK) tarafından yayınlanan yaşam memnuniyeti anketi, il düzeyinde sadece 2013 yılında yapılmıştır. Bu nedenle analiz 2013 yılı için gerçekleştirilmiştir. Analizde yer alan değişkenler için 2013 yılı TÜİK ve Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu (SGK) verileri kullanılmıştır. Analiz sonuçlarına göre mekansal regresyon modellerinden mekânsal otoregresif model çalışma için en uygun model olarak belirlenmiştir. 
 
 Bulgular: SAR model sonucuna göre bireylerin yaşam memnuniyet düzeyi sınır komşusu bölgeler arasında yayılım göstermektedir. Bireylerin yaşam memnuniyet düzeyini ortalama günlük kazanç ve bölgenin aldığı iç göç pozitif yönde etkilerken; işsizlik oranı, yüksekokul ve fakülte mezunları, malvarlığına karşı işlenen suçlar ve şiddet suçları negatif yönde etkilemektedir. Yine SAR model sonucuna göre, kişi başına gayri safi yurt içi hasıla ve tüketici fiyat endeksinin bireylerin yaşam memnuniyet düzeyine etkisi bulunmamaktadır. 
 
 Sonuç: Bir ülkede bireylerin yaşam memnuniyet düzeyinin yüksek olması, ülkenin sosyoekonomik yönden gelişmişliğinin bir göstergesi olduğu kabul edilebilir. Bu nedenle bireylerin yaşam memnuniyetini etkileyen sosyoekonomik faktörlerin belirlenmesi önem arz etmektedir. Bir ülkede bireylerin yaşam memnuniyet düzeyinin sınır komşu olan bölgelerde yayılım göstermesi ise, bölgeler arasında sosyoekonomik yönden farklılıkların giderilmesinin önemini ortaya koymaktadır. 
 
 Özgünlük: Konuyla ilgili yapılmış çalışmalarda analiz yöntemi olarak çoğunlukla lojit ve probit modeller ve sabit etkili panel veri modelleri kullanılmıştır. Mekansal veri analiz yöntemi uygulayan çalışmalara rastlanmamıştır. Yine analizde suç türleri ve bölgelerin aldığı göç oranına bağımsız değişkenler olarak yer veren Türkiye için yapılmış çalışmalara rastlanmamıştır. Bu nedenlerle çalışmanın özgünlük oluşturduğu düşünülmektedir.

Identified protective factors to support psychological well-being among gender diverse autistic youth

Literature has discussed the intersectionality between autism and transgender and gender diverse (TGD) identities. Research has also identified the importance of protective factors, which are experiences that enhance positive outcomes in the face of potentially negative experiences. This exploratory quantitative survey study seeks to identify school and community-based protective factors that relate to psychological well-being and life satisfaction among 31 TGD Autistic youths between the ages of 13 to 17. The authors utilized adapted and full-forms of validated measures including the KID-SCREEN 27, Brief Multidimensional Students’ Life Satisfaction Survey Peabody Treatment Progress Battery, Adolescent Resilience Questionnaire, Perceived Coronavirus Threat Questionnaire, and Autism-Spectrum Quotient. Results suggest that community connectedness, school support, family availability, and self-identification of sexual orientation as queer were identified as protective factors. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Relationship Between Municipal Services and Happiness Level: An Empirical Study from TR90 Region in Turkey

This paper investigates the relationship between services offered by municipalities and individuals' self-reported levels of happiness using data from 2013 obtained in the Life Satisfaction Survey (LSS), which is Turkey’s first nationally representative survey at the city-level. In this study, we focused only on cities located in the TR90 region. The findings highlight that satisfaction with municipal services varies from city to city. In particular, municipal services such as garbage/ environmental waste collection, air pollution quality, public safety, amount of green space, health/fitness center facilities, zoning/settlement/licensing, regulations for disabled people, lighting, fire, cemetery, street sign/exterior numbering and inspection of food processing facilities were found to affect the individuals’ happiness.

MAIN ECONOMIC FACTORS AFFECTING THE DETERMINATION OF HAPPINESS: A RESEARCH ON TURKEY

The concept of happiness includes many elements such as social and physical environment, demographic characteristics, economic conditions and expectations. Today, the topic of happiness has increasingly become a signifıcant issue in economics. This study examined the effects of health, education, and household incomes on happiness. This study utilized the data Life Satisfaction Survey prepared for the 2004-2019 period (TSI) by Turkey Statistical Institute. This study used the ordered Logit approach, and the variable coefficients were evaluated using Odds-Ratio and Marginal Effects. As a result of the analysis, it was seen that health has the most significant effect on happiness. Findings also show that while income statistically has a significant positive impact on happiness, education has a negative impact but does not have a statistically significant relationship.

QS22. Top Surgery in Transmasculine and Non-binary Patients With Obesity

Purpose: The number of individuals identifying as transgender and non-binary (TGNB) in the United States is rising. Studies cite higher rates of obesity among this population. TGNB patients undergo top surgery to alleviate chest dysphoria, or discomfort pertaining to one’s chest. Obese patients may experience difficulty achieving clearance for surgery due to body habitus and associated comorbidities. Complication rates among obese TGNB patients designated female at birth (DFAB) undergoing gender-affirming mastectomy are not well studied. We study surgical characteristics and patient reported outcomes following gender-affirming mastectomy in obese versus non-obese TGNB DFAB patients. Methods: We performed a retrospective review and cross-sectional study of 102 TGNB patients who underwent gender-affirming mastectomy at our institution from March 2018 to June 2021. The following post-operative outcome measures were sent to patients at least three months following top surgery: the Kozee Transgender Congruence Scale (TCS), the Olsen Chest Dysphoria Scale (CDS), and the Gender Congruence and Life Satisfaction survey (GCLS). Descriptive statistics were calculated for demographic and surgical variables. Fisher’s exact test was performed to examine associations between obesity class and complications, revisions, and patient reported outcomes. Results: Thirty-eight (37.3%) patients responded after two survey deployments. The median (IQR) BMI at time of surgery was 30.3 (25.0, 33.9) kg/m2. Eighteen patients had a BMI under 30, 15 had a BMI of 30 to 40, and 5 had a BMI of 40 and higher. The most common pre-operative comorbidities included depression (n=19, 50.0%), and anxiety (n=23, 60.5%). Hematoma occurred in 3 cases (7.9%): one in a patient with BMI under 30 and two in patients with BMI 30 to 40. This finding was not significant (p = 0.73). Revision surgery was performed in 11 cases (28.9%), most commonly for scar revision; three in patients with BMI under 30, six in patients with BMI 30 to 40, and 2 in patients with BMI 40 and over. This finding was not significant (p = 0.27). There were no significant differences in patient reported outcomes among obesity classes. Conclusion: Preliminary evidence demonstrates that gender-affirming top surgery results in comparable complication and revision rates among obesity classes. Patient reported outcomes also did not differ based on obesity class. Further data is required to robustly examine how top surgery affects patients with high BMI.

Evaluating the satisfaction level of citizens in municipality services by using picture fuzzy VIKOR method: 2014-2019 period analysis

In this study, it is aimed to rank the satisfaction levels of the municipality services. For this purpose, 20 municipal services included in the Life Satisfaction Survey (LSS) that the Turkish Statistical Institution regularly applies every year are considered as alternatives. In addition, the satisfaction of citizens was evaluated not only for the last year, but also for the period of 2014-2019, and these years were considered as a set of criteria. LSS statistics contains the citizens' responses which involve such opinion as abstain and refusal besides yes or no answers. For analyze the effect of all types of opinions on decision process, the participant responses constituting the dataset were converted into Picture Fuzzy Numbers (PFNs) consisting of 4 parameters (positive, neutral, negative, and refusal). Finally, we apply utilize VIKOR (VIseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje) method by using PFNs arithmetic operators and evaluate the citizens’ satisfaction levels of the municipality services. As a result, it was determined that the municipal services with the highest satisfaction were graveyard (A18) and fire-fighting (A17) activities, while the services with the lowest satisfaction were zoning and city planning (A10) and control of food producing facilities (A20).

Reversing the gender gap in happiness

Life satisfaction surveys are increasingly being used as a measure of welfare (Stiglitz et al., 2009), and even proposed as a primary measure (Layard, 2005). On average worldwide, surveys consistently find that women report higher life satisfaction than men. Yet, women are worse off in many ways: less education, lower incomes, worse self-reported health, and fewer opportunities. Why do they report higher life satisfaction? Using Gallup World Poll survey data from 102 countries including anchoring vignettes, I show that the gap is consistent with women and men systematically using different response scales, and that once these scales have been normalized, women appear less happy than men on average. I find that the effects of other characteristics commonly studied (income, education, marital status, etc.) are at least directionally the same after vignette adjustment, reinforcing previous findings.