The effects of traditional kin relationships on new marriages: Sample of Afyonkarahisar

This study is an assessment of traditional relative relationship on new marriages. The family, which is one of the basic elements of society, is of great importance for the Turkish society. The Turkish family is based on the institution of marriage and different from western societies in terms of structure which has laid the foundation for the healthier and stronger society. Marriage, seen in every society and regarded as sacred, offers people a new way of life. With a transition from the existing level of living to a new way of life, married people come across new relatives. Marriage is not only a partnership between women and men but also a process in which mother-in-law, father-in-law, sister-in-law, can be included in marriage. Kinship relationships can vary from one community to another. The most important factors in these kinship relationships are mother-in-law and father-in-law. Kinship relationships that change between cultures have positive or negative effects on marriages. This study on the effects of the traditional relative relationships on new marriages consists of two parts, theoretical and practical. Within the theoretical part of the study, family, family types, theoretical approaches to the family, marriage, types of marriage, divorces, and previous researches on divorces have been investigated. An interview (33) was conducted to identify the participants living in the Afyonkarahisar province and the effects of the extended family type on the new marriages some of whom lived with their mother-in-law or father-in-law for a while and some others who lived in different cities. The findings of the interviews were analyzed and interpreted. The results show that traditional relative relationships have positive and negative effects on new marriages. Key Words: extended family, elementary family, married, divorce.