Factors affecting reading habit and media follow-up in Turkey

Abstract

AIM: Reading habit in our country is quite below the world standards. In this study, the aim was to investigate reading habit, and media follow-up of Turkey in three distinct provinces. METHOD: The research group of this cross-sectional study was composed of stuff and students of medical schools, teachers and parents of the students of primary schools in three provinces. Data were obtained from questionnaires self-filled by 750 people. RESULTS: Of the people whose ages ranged from 16 to 65 (31.75±10.19) years, 28.7% were students, 14.1% were house-wives, and 7.9% were lecturers. They spent their leisure time mostly by watching TV (25.6%), playing video/internet games (9.9%), reading books (7.9%), and merely going to cinema/theater (16.7%). Of the group, 41.7% read ? 5 books per year, whereas 10.7% read no books at all. The reasons for not reading were lack of time (66.5%) and economical (10.8%). While 61.4% of those with very good economic status read >6 books per year, this rate was 22.2% among those with poor economic status, and the difference was significant (p=0.000). 32.4% were reading and 30.8% bought newspapers everyday. While 10.5% of primary school graduates bought newspapers every day, this rate was 48.9% among graduates of a university or a master degree (p=0.000). Seven percent of those with very good economic status bought no newspapers, whereas this rate was 43.1% among those with poor economic status (p=0.000). Of the people, 95.3% had a television at home. The most watched programs were the series (34.5%), and news programs (35.7%), respectively. 16.6% of the group did not listen to radio at all and the rest were listening only while driving or doing housework. CONCLUSION: Our study is important in terms of covering people from different sections of Turkish society and emphasizing the low reading habit and media follow-up once more.