Visiting a psychiatrist or psychologist as a consequence of the economic crisis : analysis of a sample survey between university students in Greece

Part of : Αρχείον οικονομικής ιστορίας ; Vol.XXV, No.2, 2013, pages 17-37

Issue:
Pages:
17-37
Author:
Abstract:
In this paper, we show the striking consequences of the Economic Crisis in Greece on the University students and, generally, the young people. The results of a sample survey among 1350 students of the Universities and Technological Institutions of Athens are analyzed. An Exploratory Factor Analysis reveals four main factors of effects of the economic crisis and the existing corruption levels in Greece, on the respondents: (a) Loss of confidence on the Greek institutions of political representation, political system, system of Justice, Educational system, Health system and Security system. (b) Psychosocial characteristics, lack of goals, a prevailing sense of abandonment, widespread pessimism, negative belief, a nihilistic approach to everyday reality and lack of self-confidence, negative influence of the economic crisis on the results of exams. (c) Substantial reduction in the living expenses, especially in the expenses for food, for clothing, housing and entertainment. (d) Definite immigration plans by the young educated Greeks and desire for postgraduate studies and settlement abroad. The coefficients Cronbach alpha for the four factors a, b, c, d, are: (0,88), (0,72), (0,68) and (0,42), correspondingly. A Logistic Regression reveals the following statistically significant predictors of lack of academic progress as a result of economic crisis: negative psychological attitudes of students, loss of confidence to government institutions, intolerable living expenses and strong desire for immigration as a result of the bad economic conditions. Also, a second Logistic Regression reveals the following statistically significant predictors of visiting a psychologist or a psychiatrist as a result of the economic crisis: lack of job security, sense of abandonment, high feelings of pessimism, sense that nothing has a degree of importance any more since there are no social values and strong desire to emigrate as a result of the bad economic conditions
Subject:
Subject (LC):
Keywords:
Greek Debt Crisis, Sample Survey, University Students, Logistic Regression
Notes:
JEL Classification: F31, F33, F34, F41, F42, F50
References (1):
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