A Bayesian Network Model for Family Dynamics, Linguistic Influences and Happiness in Türkiye

Understanding the factors that contribute to family happiness is critical for fostering social cohesion and individual well-being, especially within the unique cultural and relational dynamics of Türkiye, a Mediterranean country. Being at the crossroads between the East and the West, Türkiye offers a heterogeneous environment for the analysis of family structure and happiness. Given that a large nationally representative dataset exists, we have a very rich source of information available to us. Utilizing the Turkish Family Structure Survey, conducted by the Turkish Statistical Institute in collaboration with the Ministry of Family and Social Services, this study uses the data from more than 35,000 individuals to analyze various aspects of family happiness and language consistency from a causal standpoint. Our analysis employs a Bayesian modeling framework to explore how family happiness interacts with key variables, including language consistency (the use of native language inside versus outside the home), as well as variables indicating family closeness, such as the frequency of meeting, giving gifts, living distance, and the frequency of arguments. To the best of our knowledge, no past studies have conducted such a comprehensive network analysis on distinct yet relevant aspects of family structure using Bayesian methods. The findings suggest a strong relationship among the family happiness, linguistic diversity, gift-giving, the living distance from family members, and the number of visits.