Turkish family life: A study of family leisure, family functioning, and family satisfaction

The purpose of this study was to examine the contribution of family leisure involvement and family leisure satisfaction to the explanation of variance in family functioning and satisfaction with family life among Turkish families using the core and balance framework. The sample (n + 509) consisted of families (parents and youth ages 11-16 years) from Izmir, Turkey. Findings indicate significant positive relationships between family leisure variables and all family functioning and satisfaction variables from both the parent and youth perspectives. These findings are similar to those from family samples in other Western/industrialized countries, emphasizing the significant role of family leisure regardless of country, language, and cultural change. Further, findings identified differences in relationships between parent and youth perspectives and were discussed within the cultural context of Turkey's rapid social and societal change. Implications and recommendations for Turkish families and future family leisure research are discussed.