Brain drain attitudes and life satisfaction among dental students in Türkiye: a multidimensional analysis

Migration-related attitudes among healthcare trainees have become an important concern for workforce sustainability. However, the psychosocial and contextual correlates of these attitudes among dental students remain underexplored. This study aimed to assess attitudes toward brain drain among dental students in Türkiye and to examine their associations with life satisfaction, sociodemographic characteristics, and family background factors.

This cross-sectional study included 935 undergraduate dental students recruited through national student networks across multiple dental faculties in Türkiye. Data were collected using an anonymous online questionnaire comprising a demographic information form, the Life Satisfaction Scale (LSS), and the Attitude Scale for Brain Drain (ASBD). Statistical analyses included non-parametric group comparisons, Spearman's correlation analyses, hierarchical multiple linear regression, and supplementary sensitivity analyses.

A substantial proportion of students (61.9%) reported an intention to work abroad after graduation. Brain drain attitudes were accompanied by strong family support for working abroad (70.9%) and a high desire to return after migration (67.1%). Total, social, and economic life satisfaction showed statistically significant negative correlations with ASBD scores, with the largest correlation observed for economic life satisfaction (rho = -0.291, p < .001). In the hierarchical regression model, total life satisfaction (β = -0.248, p < .001), academic year, age, and maternal education remained independently associated with ASBD scores.

Brain drain attitudes were common among participating dental students in Türkiye and were associated with life satisfaction, academic year, age, and family background factors. These findings suggest that migration-related attitudes are shaped not only by personal well-being but also by broader educational, familial, professional, and structural influences.