Differentiation of Family Values: A Quantitative Research on Socio-Demographic Determinants

Abstract

This study examines the extent to which family values vary according to socio-demographic determinants -gender, age, educational attainment, occupational status, and mode of spouse acquaintance. Data were collected from 287 parents of primary school- age children in Düzce, Turkey, using the Family Values Scale, and analyzed through independent-samples t tests and one-way ANOVA. The findings indicate that women attach greater significance to the mother–child relationship and participatory decision-making, whereas men emphasize kinship ties, childrearing, marriage, spousal loyalty, and the economic functions of the family, reflecting more traditional orientations. Self-initiated marriages were associated with stronger emotional bonds. Younger respondents expressed more liberal attitudes toward sexuality and unconventional values, middle-aged participants prioritized democratic decision-making, and older participants showed stronger adherence to marital commitment and loyalty. Education was a critical factor: lower schooling levels corresponded to greater endorsement of traditional norms, and higher levels to more egalitarian orientations. Occupationally, health professionals held more liberal perspectives, while housewives and private-sector employees showed stronger traditional attachments. Overall, family values in Turkey appear shaped simultaneously by socio-demographic characteristics and the interplay between tradition and modernity, underscoring the relevance of policies promoting education, gender equality, and labor force participation