Internal Migration and Initial Family Type in Turkey

Abstract

In this thesis, the relationship between the initial family type and internal migration behavior of ever-married women who are in their reproductive age is investigated based on the 2013 Turkey Demographic and Health Survey data. This relationship has been analyzed by using the logistic regression analysis method—the intergenerational co-residence from the perspective of the younger generation used as the theoretical approach. In theory, it is assumed that intergenerational co-residence is common among agricultural societies, and with the introduction of industrialization and subsequently, through urbanization and migration, this pattern eventually decreases (Ruggles and Heggeness, 2008). The evaluation of the effect of migration on initial family types is based on this theory. The migration pattern in this study is categorized as urban to urban, urban to rural, rural to urban, rural to rural. The reason for migration is constructed in four categories, marriage, personal, family-related, and other. Likewise, the initial family type is the dependent variable and classified into two groups; namely, nuclear and extended family type. Moreover, the analysis conducted within the framework of the main sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents revealed the relational dimension of the subject being studied. This analysis was made by taking into account some characteristics of women in the period until their first marriage. Namely, educational status, participation in the labor force and social security status, as well as the age of first marriage, ethnicity and finally marital characteristics (marriage arrangement, consanguinity between spouses and brides money). The results showed that internal migration was an important factor for women establishing a new family. In particular, the migration pattern and reason for the last migration before first marriage affect the couple's family formation type in the first marriage.