Prof. Tayfun Doğan from the Department of Psychology, evaluating the rise in Türkiye's happiness rate to 53.3 percent according to TURKSTAT's Life Satisfaction Survey, said, “The happiness rate needs to rise above 75 percent.”
Prof. Doğan, stating that the most important source of happiness is family, said, “The family institution should be seen as the guarantor of peace and happiness in our country. Attempts to destroy or harm the family institution should be eliminated.”
Prof. Tayfun Doğan, Faculty Member at the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Üsküdar University, evaluated the results of TURKSTAT's Life Satisfaction Survey, which were recently announced. According to the survey, the happiness rate in Türkiye rose to 53.3 percent.
Prof. Doğan stated that for many years, Türkiye has been seen as moderately happy in both local and international surveys, and said, “The results of this survey are not surprising. However, seeing an upward trend in happiness is important. This is because, especially the pandemic, the earthquake we experienced, and the economic crisis our country is facing, had caused a decrease in our people's happiness levels. Although this increase is positively evaluated, it cannot be said to be at the desired level. Personally, I believe the happiness rate should exceed 75 percent. To achieve this, much needs to be done on individual, societal, and governmental levels. Individually, there are things we can do such as eating healthier, improving our interpersonal relationships, and finding meaning and purpose in life. Societally, there are many things that can be done, such as increasing solidarity, providing socio-emotional support, and becoming more reliable by enhancing honesty. In some areas, the government and administrators need to take initiative. Issues such as improving the economy, increasing the proportion of green spaces in cities, transforming our cities into human-friendly cities, and ensuring social justice and security are things our government can do to increase happiness,” he said.
Prof. Doğan stated that the finding in the survey that married individuals are happier indicates the importance of the family institution, and added: “In almost all studies on happiness, it is found that married individuals are happier than single and divorced ones. Factors such as married individuals experiencing less loneliness, having better nutrition, better economic situations, and a regular sexual life contribute to their greater happiness. Furthermore, having a family and children adds significant meaning to people's lives. In other words, family is one of the strongest sources of meaning. When all these factors come together, the happiness levels of married individuals increase. The family institution should be seen as the guarantor of peace and happiness in our country. Attempts to destroy or harm the family institution should be eliminated. Additionally, individuals should be educated, informed, and enlightened to become more conscious parents and spouses.”
Prof. Doğan, evaluating that family was identified as the most important source of happiness with a rate of 69 percent in the survey, said, “We are a country where a collective culture prevails, inhabited by warm-hearted people. The strength of family and kinship ties can be considered a great advantage. Because this situation helps provide significant socio-emotional support to people in need within society. Thanks to this, people do not feel abandoned, helpless, lonely, or worthless. Whereas in societies where individualism prevails, a very serious loneliness and meaning crisis is experienced.”
Prof. Doğan, also evaluating that health ranked first among the sources of happiness in the survey, continued as follows: “Health can be described as the highest form of happiness. To be happy is to be healthy. Philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer says, ‘A healthy beggar is happier than a sick king. The greatest of follies is to sacrifice one's health for anything whatsoever, be it work, education, fame, promotion, lust, or momentary pleasures.’ Once health is good, other problems hindering happiness can somehow be resolved. Nowadays, more people are trying to act consciously about health. People are eating healthier than before, the number of those exercising is increasing compared to the past, and people are going for health check-ups more frequently. However, unfortunately, smoking, consumption of packaged foods, carbohydrate-heavy diets, and inactivity are quite common in our country. In fact, if we were to make a comparison, we could say that those exhibiting healthy behaviors constitute a relatively small minority compared to those living unhealthy lives. Nevertheless, I am hopeful about this. Increasingly, more of our people are turning towards a healthy lifestyle.”
Prof. Doğan, evaluating that the high cost of living stood out as the most important social problem in the survey, said, “The relationship between happiness and money is one of the most frequently wondered topics. Money and a good economic situation are significant advantages for happiness. When your economic situation is good, you feel secure in many respects, you eat better, you benefit more from health services, you experience a sense of achievement, and you are free from the stress and troubles that poverty can cause. All these are great advantages for happiness. Indeed, research also shows that individuals with higher socioeconomic status are happier. However, there are also many unhappy people despite their very good financial situations. Why is this? Firstly, money is not the sole determinant. Secondly, people can get used to being rich. After a while, being in a good financial situation may not contribute to their happiness. We call this hedonic adaptation, which is when things that initially made us happy lose their effect after some time. Thirdly, people who acquire money later in life may not know what to do with it,” he said.
Prof. Doğan noted that how money is spent also seems important for happiness, and said, “If you buy time with money and free yourself from doing some tedious tasks, if you share your money with other people (philanthropy), and if you spend your money on experiences rather than objects, it can make you happier. A sweater or phone you buy today will not matter ten years from now. When you look back and remember them, you probably won't feel happy. However, when you spend your money on experiences, the situation will be different. Beautiful memories you live, a trip, an activity you undertook with friends or loved ones, will be etched in your memory and will make you happy even years later when you recall them. In a way, happiness is about collecting beautiful memories. The more positive memories you have from the past, the happier you are,” he said.
Prof. Doğan concluded his words as follows: “Your income situation is important for happiness, but money is not everything. After our basic needs are met, we should focus on personal development and self-actualization. This is possible by moving from a 'having' mentality to a 'being' mentality. Only through this way can a more lasting and genuine happiness be achieved, one that is not dependent on external conditions and does not change with circumstances. Within the 'being' mentality, we must constantly develop ourselves, strengthen our inner fortress, and strive to be an individual who is more hopeful, forgiving, optimistic, self-confident, high in self-worth, loving, living a meaningful and purposeful life, and capable of building deep, fulfilling, and healthy relationships.”
