Evaluation of the factors influencing families' decision to have children in the evolving family structure: A case study of Hakkâri

The objective of this study was to examine the factors that influence the motivation of families to have children within the context of a changing family structure. Additionally, the study aimed to assess the impact of these factors on the motivation of families to have children. The objective of this study is to investigate the motivations of married individuals residing in the urban center, districts, and rural areas of Hakkari in regards to their decision to have children. The present study was methodologically designed using a triangulation design within the framework of mixed method research. The questionnaire technique was employed as a quantitative research method, while the semi-structured interview format was utilized as a qualitative research method. The rationale behind selecting this approach is to effectively tackle the issues from multiple angles, enhance data diversity and integration, and ultimately achieve more comprehensive outcomes. The questionnaire utilized the "Childbearing Motivations Scale" and the " Attitudes Towards Fertility and Childbearing Scale." The interview form comprises inquiries pertaining to the study. A total of 399 participants were surveyed using the questionnaire technique, while the interview technique was employed to reach 30 participants. The study was conducted in various locations, including provincial centers, district centers, and villages/districts. The data analysis of the study was performed in accordance with the triangulation design. The survey data were analyzed using the SPSS program, and various statistical tests such as frequency analysis, chi-square test, t-test, and ANOVA were employed for data evaluation. During the analysis of qualitative data, a systematic approach was employed to create coding, categories, and themes. The interviews were thoroughly examined and analyzed using this method. The data analyses for both quantitative and qualitative methods were conducted independently and then combined during the final stage. Based on the data collected during the research, it can be inferred that the majority of participants express a desire to have children, place importance on parenthood, perceive it as a positive experience, and express a preference for having more children than their current number of offspring. Children have traditionally been ascribed various significances, including being the bedrock of the family unit, representing the future, being indispensable, bringing joy and love, and fostering a stronger connection between spouses. A statistically significant relationship was observed between the participants' motivation to have children and various demographic factors, including gender, age, age at marriage, place of residence, education level, employment status, income level, family type, marriage type, level of religiosity, current number of children, desired number of children, number of people living in the household, number of rooms, having a personal room, and the presence of deceased children (p<0.05). Furthermore, it has been determined that a multitude of factors, including individual circumstances, societal culture, social surroundings, religious tenets as well as physical and economic challenges, significantly influence the motivation of individuals to start a family in diverse manners. In conclusion, this study provides recommendations for future research based on the obtained results.