When do Turkish men leave their parents’ home?
Although similar to Balkan, Mediterranean and Middle-eastern families; the family structure in Turkish society shows great differences compared to people living in other parts of the civilized world.
Turkish family types can be shaped and named according to many different variables. These are examined in various ways according to the size of the family, the place of residence, and the fragmented family characteristic.
- By size : According to size of the family; traditional family and nuclear family.
- By settlement: According to their settlements; living in the countryside, living in suburbs and living in the city.
Apart from these, there are families divided due to death and separation. These are called fragmented families. Children who grow up in such environments may experience various adaptation and behavioral problems.
Considering the situation of young individuals leaving home in Turkish society, we can state that family types are also a major factor. The different life cycles of families also bring differences in the roles and responsibilities of young people in the family. Preparation for marriage, marriage, family with young children, family with adolescent children, family with children leaving home, old age and retirement cycle are all factors.
In other words, a Turkish teenager may never leave his family. According to current data published by the European Statistical Office (Eurostat) on the occasion of the “European Youth Day”; 49.7 percent of men aged 25-34 still live with their families in Turkey, while only 22 percent of women in the same age group. It is also noted that ,5 of them stayed in their family home. The European Union average is 35 percent for men and 23.7 percent for women.
However, in the Eastern European region, the proportion of men living in the parents’ house is higher than in other countries. For example, in the same age group, 75.6 percent of Serbian men, 74 percent of Croatian men and 66 percent of Greek men continue to live with their families. Whilst in Europe, young people usually leave their parents at the age of 26, in Turkey men leave their parents’ home at 29.7 years old and women leave at 25.4 years old.