Family Functioning and Socialization Among Turkish Youth in Türkiye and the European Union: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Migration exerts a profound influence on the socialization of individuals, shaping values, norms, and behaviors across generations. This study examined the relationships between family functionality, social connectedness, antisocial behavior, and prosocial behavior through a structural equation model, and compared these processes among Turkish youth residing in Türkiye and European Union countries. The sample included 424 Turkish young people aged 18–25, with 207 born and raised in EU countries and 217 in Türkiye. Data were collected using the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale IV, Social Connectedness Scale, Adult Prosociality Scale, and the Antisocial Behavior Subscale of the Risky Behavior Scale. European Turkish youth reported higher prosocial behavior than peers in Türkiye. While total scores for family functionality did not differ significantly, balanced cohesion and flexibility were higher among European Turks, who also reported a more rigid, rule-bound family structure. Social connectedness and antisocial behavior partially mediated the relationship between family functionality and prosocial behavior. Multi-group analysis showed no significant differences between groups. The model was validated in both contexts, and migration status did not moderate the relationships. Overall, findings indicate a healthy family structure and socialization process among fourth-generation European Turkish youth, reflecting positive intergenerational effects of post-migration integration.

Keywords

family functioning social connectedness prosocial behavior antisocial behavior migration

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