Algılanan göreli yoksunluğun sağlık durumuna etkisi: Kontrol odağı ve işsizlik süresinin aracı rolleri & iyimserlik eğilimi ve algılanan sosyal desteğin düzenleyici rolleri

Relative deprivation is a feeling that arises when individuals perceive a deficiency of a deserved outcome in themselves compared to others similar. Previous research suggested that since feeling relative deprivation leads to an unpleasant psychological state, this feeling deteriorates physical and psychological health. Unemployment can be regarded as a significant agent for the feeling of relative deprivation. The primary purpose of the present thesis was to investigate the relation between perceived relative deprivation and health outcomes among unemployed individuals. In this relation, mediating roles of locus of control and length of unemployment and moderating roles of dispositional optimism and perceived social support aimed to be explored. Before conducting the main study, Turkish adaptation study of the Personal Relative Deprivation Scale (PRDS) was performed, and Turkish version of PRDS was found as a reliable and valid measure with good psychometric properties. The main study was conducted with 402 unemployed participants. Results of the regression analyses showed that perceiving relative deprivation was related to worse physical and psychological health. Findings of the mediation analyses indicated that externality in locus of control significantly mediated the relation between perceived relative deprivation and physical and psychological health; however, length of unemployment mediated this relation only for physical health. Regarding the protective roles of dispositional optimism and perceived social support, moderation analyses were not significant. The findings of the analyses were discussed based on the existing literature. Strengths, practical implications, limitations of the present study, and suggestions for future research were presented.