Abstract:

The increase in divorce rates, domestic violence incidents, demographic transformation and similar problems show that the institution of the family is undergoing a transformation. For this reason, investigating the transformation in the family and the causes of the problems caused by this transformation is one of the main motivation sources in this study. There is no doubt that one of the prerequisites for the continuity of the family institution is mate selection approaches. The literature study we have done on the subject has revealed the importance of examining the mate selection strategies of young adults. One of the most important prerequisites for a successful marriage is choosing the right partner. Today, according to which criteria young adults choose their spouses and their approach to the family institution is one of the variables that will explain the transformation in the family institution. For this reason, our research was conducted to determine the approaches of young adult university students of the Z generation to the family institution and mate selection. The aim of this study is to examine the spouse selection strategies of Z generation young adult university students in terms of gender, romantic relationship status, religiosity, economic status and place of residence. For this purpose, the Inventory of Spouse Selection Strategies was applied to university students studying at Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University by obtaining the necessary permissions. The sample of the study consists of a total of 447 participants, 120 men and 327 women. The obtained data were analyzed with SPSS 22 package program. Since the data of the study did not show normal distribution, nonparametric tests were used in the analysis process. According to the findings, the mate choice tendencies of Z generation young adult university students show significant differences in terms of gender, romantic relationship status and religiosity variables. No significant difference was found between the economic situation and the place of residence and the mate selection strategies. In addition, it was concluded that all of the participants cared more about the emotional elements than the rational ones when choosing a partner.

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