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Turkey’s changing family structure examined for the second time

The results of the second “Turkey’s changing family structure” survey, in which the Family Structure in Turkey is addressed with its broad dimensions jointly by Istanbul Ticaret University and AREDA (Research, Education, and Consultancy) Survey Company, were shared with the public. Topics covered in the research conducted through a comprehensive survey were as follows: marriage and marriage status, having children, elderly care, threats to the family, family values, attitudes towards women’s employment, economic status of the family, family laws, domestic violence and divorce, and the effect of communication tools on the family.

The results of the survey were announced at an event held at Istanbul Ticaret University with the participation of Istanbul Ticaret University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Elçin Aykaç Alp, AREDA Survey Deputy General Manager Mr. Fatih Aydın and Project Coordinator, and Istanbul Ticaret University Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Ömer Çaha.

After the greeting speeches of Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Elçin Aykaç Alp and AREDA Survey Deputy General Manager Mr. Fatih Aydın, Prof. Dr. Ömer Çaha announced the results of the survey.

THE IDEAL AGE FOR MARRIAGE

Of the 2400 participants included in the survey, 46.7% stated the ideal age for marriage for men as 22 to 26 years old. This group was followed by 35.5% of the participants, who stated the ideal age for marriage for men as 27 to 30 years old and 10.8% of the participants who stated the ideal age for marriage for men as 31 years old and above. On the other hand, 49.2% stated the ideal age for marriage for women as 22 to 26 years old. This group was followed by 22.5% of the participants, who stated the ideal age for marriage for women as 27 to 30 years old and 3% of the participants who stated the ideal age for marriage for women as 31 years old and above. It was noteworthy that 8.4% of the participants were aged 31 and over at their first marriage, 15.6% were between the ages of 27-30, 38.6% were between the ages of 22-26 and 29.5% were between the ages of 18-21.

MOST COUPLES HAD BOTH CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS MARRIAGES

Of the participants, 88.3% stated that they had both civil and religious marriages while getting married, whereas 8.3% had only a civil and 1.4% had only a religious marriage, and 2% had neither.

NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN THE FAMILY

Of the participants, 88% stated to have children. The rate of those with five or more children was 4%, whereas the rate of those with four, three, two children and one child were 4.8%, 20.9%, 33.8%, and 41.4%, respectively. Of the respondents, 76.2% stated that they were born into a family with three or more children. Yet, 75.2% of the said 76.2% stated to have 2 or fewer children. Additionally, 88.5% of the respondents stated that they do not plan to have another child.

The rate of those who have only one child but do not want a second child was 82.9%, whereas the rate of those who have two children and do not want another child was 92.7%. Taken together, these data suggest that the average number of children participants have is less than necessary number to keep the population in balance.

RELATIVES ARE VISITED DURING THE HOLIDAYS

Visits made between family members during holidays or on special days show that the family continues to be at the center of social life in Turkey. Accordingly, more than 90% of the participants stated that they visit their parents on such days, whereas some 80% stated that they also visit their close relatives such as uncles, uncles, aunts, usually or whenever possible.

FAMILY STANDS OUT AS THE FIRST INSTITUTION TO RESORT TO IN TERMS OF SOLIDARITY

According to the survey, people in Turkey tend to resort to a family member first when they are in a difficult situation. The fact that 77.5% of the respondents stated that they resorted to a family member when they were in trouble, reveals that the family continues to be the first institution to resort to in terms of solidarity.

LIFESTYLE IS STILL FAMILY CENTERED

According to the results of the survey, two-thirds of the participants stated to have been spending 5 hours or more a day with their families. This result suggests that a family-centered lifestyle is still dominant in Turkish society.

According to the survey results, there is a high sensitivity regarding the obligation to care for elderly parents in Turkish society. In parallel, 94.6% of the participants stated that they feel obligated to take care of their parents when they get old.

More than half (54.5%) of the respondents stated that they would like to live separately from their children when they get older. On the other hand, 31.8% stated that they would rather stay with their children.

THREATS TO THE FAMILY

According to the survey results, the issue that threatens the family unity the most is poverty or financial incapability. Of the respondents, 38.2% point to that as the factor that most threatens family unity. Participants also listed bad habits such as drinking, gambling and drug addiction among the factots that threaten family unity. According to the findings of the survey, incompatibility, domestic violence, television, culture conflict and cheating on the spouse are other factors that play a role in the dissolution of family unity.

There is a strong relationship between family members in Turkey as also indicated by the social perception. As a matter of fact, 59.6% of the respondents stated that the communication between the members of their family is strong. There are many factors that negatively affect communication between family members. Participants listed internet, lack of love/respect, tough working conditions, television and selfish behaviors as the factors that negatively affect communication between family members.

FAMILIES PREFER TO HAVE GIRLS

According to the results of the survey, 60% of the participants stated that they would prefer to have a girl were they to have only one child, which is a higher rate than the rate (56.3%) found in last year’s survey, indicating an increase in the tendency to have girls since last year.

MAN AND WOMAN ARE EQUAL

Of the participants, 66.3% stated that men and women have the same nature. The traditional notion that men are superior to women is shared by only 18.2% of the participants. On the other hand, 9.1% of the participants expressed that women are superior to men.

The survey revealed that Turkish society is of the opinion that working women reflect positively on the families. Accordingly, 67% of the respondents stated that working women add strength to the family, whereas 24.4% stated that working women weaken the family.

FINANCIAL STATUS

It was determined that 44% of the participants have an income of 5.000 TL or less. Last year, the rate of those with an income of 5.000 TL or less was 75.6%. The increase in salaries in the face of inflation seems to play a role in this result. Additionally, the income of 40.1% of the participants was found to be between 5.000 TL and 10.000 TL, whereas the income of 16.1% of the participants was found to be more than 10.000 TL. As the level of education increases, do does the income level of the family. As a matter of fact, the rate of university graduates who earn a salary of 10.000 TL or more was found to be more than three times that of elementary school graduates.

Approximately 46% of the respondents stated that they earn enough to meet the needs of the family. This result indicates an approximately 2% decrease compared to the last year’s rate. On the other hand, 57.8% and 37.8% of the participants stated that they are homeowners and tenants, respectively.

SATISFACTION WITH FAMILY LIFE

According to the results of the survey, more than half (55.5%) of the respondents stated to have been generally satisfied or very satisfied with their family life. On the other hand, the rate of those who stated that they are not satisfied with their family life was 20.1%. In contrast, the rates of those who stated to be and not to be satisfied with their family life were 72.8% and 12.1%, respectively, last year.

DO LAWS PROTECT THE FAMILY?

More than half (56.5%) of the respondents think that the laws in Turkey protect neither the family nor the women. The rate of those who think as such was 48.8% last year. This result suggests that a negative trend has emerged in the perception that family is protected by the laws.

“ALIMONY MUST BE GIVEN”

The analysis of respondents’ opinions about whether alimony should be given to the woman in case of divorce indicated that the society has a positive approach to the view that alimony should be given to the woman for a reasonable period of time in case of divorce. On the other hand, 55.1% of the participants stated that “the man should give alimony to the woman as long as she is not working”. In addition, the rate of those who stated to agree with the idea that “the man should give alimony to the woman only for a reasonable period of time” was 52.3%.

REASONS FOR DIVORCE

According to the results of the survey, the most important factor underlying divorce is economic reasons, as indicated by 55.1% of the participants. This rate was 37.2% last year. This result indicates that there is a perception that divorces based on economic reasons have increased more than last year. According to this year’s survey, TV shows, lack of love and respect, cheating on spouse, severe incompatibility, moral collapse, women’s awareness, deterioration of family structure, difficult living conditions and the internet are other factors cited as the cause of divorce by the participants. In the survey conducted last year, similar causes were cited at approximately the same rates.

TV IS THE MOST POPULAR MEDIA TOOL

It was determined that the most frequently used media tool in families is television. 36.1% of the participants stated to have been watching television for 5 hours or more per day, compared to 40% last year. Television is watched more by women, older participants and those with low educational level. The rate of those who stated that they do not use the internet is only 7.7%, compared to 8.3% last year. In terms of social media tools, it was determined that around 90% of the participants use Facebook.

PIETY

The results of the survey revealed that 87.3% of the participants defined themselves as believers. Of the participants who defined themselves as believers, 26.3% stated that they try to fulfill all religious duties, 37.9% stated that they try to fulfill some of the religious duties, whereas 23.1% stated that they do not fulfill any religious duty.

It was observed that women are significantly more religious than men. In parallel, the rate of men who do not have faith and care about religious values is higher than that of women (15.2% vs. 6.7%).

THE RATE OF HAPPY PEOPLE

According to the survey findings, the rate of those who felt happy has decreased from 40.3% last year to 36.4% this year, whereas the rate of those who felt unhappy has increased from 21.4% to 26.3%. On the other hand, the rate of those who stated that they are “neither happy nor unhappy” was 37.3%, which, taken together with the rate of those who feel unhappy, is remarkably higher than the rate of those who feel happy.