Families with low socioeconomic level factor affecting family structure

Family is a concept that refers to the network of relationships among individuals living together in a household or other living space. It is defined as a group of people who are connected to each other through blood ties, marriage, or similar relationships. Family forms the foundation of the primary social sphere and is an essential element in shaping the structure of society. In a family, parents or parental figures typically take on the responsibility of caring for, protecting, and raising children. Additionally, family members spend time together, provide emotional support, transmit values and cultural norms, and assist each other. For these factors to be experienced in a healthy manner, it is necessary for the material needs of every individual to be comfortably met. This thesis research aims to identify the factors that may influence family structure in low socio-economic level families. The study group of the thesis research vii consists of 10 women living in Istanbul, selected through purposive sampling method, aiming to capture a diverse range of participants. The participants are individuals who fall below the poverty line according to TÜİK (Turkish Statistical Institute) data. The data was collected through a socio-demographic questionnaire and semi- structured open-ended questions. The interviews were conducted via phone calls. During these interviews, with the participants' permission, voice recordings were taken. The voice recordings were then listened to again and transcribed into a Word document. The data obtained in the research was evaluated in accordance with qualitative research techniques. According to the findings of the research, it has been observed that being a low- income family has negative factors. It has been determined that the family structure in low-income families is sociologically affected. Being a large family has been found to also affect the equal opportunities for the members of the family. It has been observed that family planning is important in terms of health, economy, women's rights, and the environment. It has been observed that families with many children who have not been able to plan their family face financial difficulties and need social support.