LIFE SATISFACTION AND ITS ANTECEDENTS: REVIEW OF THE BLACK SEA REGION

Abstract

Life satisfaction can be defined as emotional reactions towards life which can be composed of one's work, leisure and other non-business time. Life satisfaction is a set of processes related with individuals’ own life patterns and standards. Individuals’ life satisfaction can be affected by many things. Some of them are; work life, income, health status, education level, environmental factors, social and physical security, economic security and social relationships. Life satisfaction is expressed as a key element of a comprehensive happiness. In a deductive approach, life satisfaction is a general assessment of life depending mostly on factors such as personality. In an inductive approach satisfaction in the life areas descibes the wellbeing in the sum of different areas such as work, family, health and so on. In this study, measurements and evaluations of an inductive approach are utilized. The purpose of the study is evaluating the life satisfaction level of the provinces in the Black Sea Region and the antecedents of this satisfation in the scope of the data taken from Turkey Statistical Institute (TurkStat) and it is aimed to make recommendations to the relevant stakeholders in the light of the findings. In this context, data of wellbeing index of TurkStat for the year of 2015 was used in this study. As a result, not only in the Black Sea Region, but also in Turkey rank it is specified that the province which has the highest life satisfaction is belong to Sinop and the lowest is belong to Zonguldak. In the light of all these findings, recommendations were made to stakeholders, organizations who are considering investments to Black Sea Region and other investors about what should be paid attention and what should be necessary as priorities.