The Reconstruction Of The Family Concept: Family Perceptions Family In Single-Parent Families

This study examines the perceptions of family among single-parent individuals living in Istanbul, focusing on the impact of social transformation on the definition of family. Processes such as modernization, urbanization, and individualization have led to diversification in family structures, making single-parent families a significant outcome of this transformation. The research investigates how single-parent individuals define the family and how these definitions are reconstructed around emotional elements such as love, trust, and solidarity. Using a phenomenological approach, data were collected and analyzed through in-depth interviews. The findings reveal that while the traditional “mother-father-child” model remains a reference point, in practice, the concept of family is redefined through emotional bonds and solidarity. Participants reported experiencing an initial sense of “incompleteness,” which gradually evolved into perceptions of “strength” and “resilience.” Consequently, single-parent families are observed to construct a strong and functional family structure.