Attitudes of single young people aged 18-35 towards family, marriage and children: iIzmir sample

The purpose of this study is to examine the family and youth values among single individuals living in Izmir. A survey model, one of the quantitative research methods, was used as the research method, and questionnaires were preferred as the data collection method. The sample of the study consists of 559 unmarried individuals aged 18-35 living in Izmir where simple random sampling method is used. Statistical analysis were performed using the SPSS 27.0 package program. Factor analysis revealed six factors: Premarital dating, the significance of family, the value of child, the significance of marriage, spouse selection criteria and happy marriage. The total variance explained by these six constructs regarding youth and family values was calculated as 71.118%. The Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient was found to be 0.86. The Cronbach's alpha of the premarital dating was found to be 0.94 whereas the importance of family was 0.90, the value of child was 0.91, the importance of marriage was 0.84, the spouse selection criteria was 0.82 and the happy marriage was 0.69. Thus, the reliability of the scale was determined to be high. Parametric tests such as t-test and ANOVA were applied to the data showing normal distribution. 95% confidence interval was used in interpreting the findings. According to the t-test results, a statistically significant difference was found for the spouse selection criteria in terms of the gender of single youth (p<0.05). According to the ANOVA test, statistically significant differences were found in premarital dating, the importance of family, and spouse selection criteria according to the age; in premarital dating, the value of children, spouse selection criteria, and happy marriage according to education level; in premarital dating and spouse selection criteria according to occupations; and spouse selection criteria according to monthly income (p<0.05). Additionally, the importance of family and value of children in marriage was found to be high among single young individuals. It was revealed that they give more importance on the values of trust, respect, and communication for a happy marriage. It was observed that the young people in the Izmir sample preserved family values in their attitudes towards premarital meetings, the importance of family, marriage and children. Regression analysis showed that age and education had a significant effect on premarital dating attitudes, while gender, education and occupation had a significant effect on spouse selection criteria.