A qualitative study on Problems of Young People and Ways of Religious Coping in Türkiye

The aim of the research is to investigate the problems young people face in Turkey and to examine the religious coping mechanisms they use to cope with these problems. A total of 353 students from Turkey participated, including 190 high school and 163 university students. The research, conducted in April 2024, employed two different methods for data collection: Written data were gathered directly from high school students through interviews, while questionnaires were distributed to university students and collected by the researcher. We used semi-structured interviews based on a specific framework, asking participants three comprehensive, open-ended questions. After conducting a content analysis on the data, the researcher categorized the data thematically according to the content. According to the findings of the research based on the available data, the problems faced by young people are classified under three main headings: individual, social and existential issues. Individual problems included gender roles, sexuality, religious doubts, stress, addiction, and loneliness. Social problems consist of local and popular culture, violence, concerns about the future, difficulties in finding a profession, the education process, marriage, and family communication. Existential problems include such issues as the meaning of life, death, and belief in God. The study revealed that young people often resort to religious coping strategies to handle these challenges. Among these strategies, such practices as trusting and believing in Allah, prayer (salat) and supplication (dua), expressing gratitude, repentance, ablution, going to the mosque, reading the Qur'an, participating in religious conversations and volunteering services become prominent. As a result, it was determined that religious coping strategies are an important part of the daily lives of young people in Turkey and that these strategies play an important role in coping with individual, social, and existential challenges. Unlike studies that generally address psychological or social elements, this research highlights the role of religious practices as a coping mechanism.