Examining the Relationship between Caring for Family Unity and Levels of Tolerance Tendencies of Primary School Students

Abstract

This research was conducted to investigate the relationship between family unity and tolerance tendencies of primary school fourth graders. In addition, whether the level of students' attention to family unity and tolerance tendency differed according to some demographic variables was also examined. To this end, to gather raw data for the study, two scales were used: an 18-item Tolerance Tendency Scale with three sub-dimensions (value, acceptance, and empathy) and a 22-item caring For Family Unity with four sub-dimensions (love, respect, communication, and loyalty), as well as to collect demographic data by a Personal Information Form. The relational screening model was used in this study. The participants (N = 1101) were conveniently selected from a primary school (fourth grades) in Sakarya. Of the participants, 531 (49%) were girls, while 565 (51%) wereboys. Pearson correlation coefficient was used for the relationship between variables, while parametric T test was used for the analysis of demographic data such as gender, parental cohabitation, family type variables. As to non-parametric tests, Kruskal Wallis H test was also used to explore whether perceptions of the students change according to family income level. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to determine which groups were significantly different in the results of Kruskal-Wallis H test. The analyses showed a significant positive relationship between the level of students' attention to family unity and tolerance tendencies. Regardin gender in communication and loyalty dimension, students' level of caring for family unity changed for the favor of female students. In terms of whether student's parents live together, it differed for the favor of students whose parents are living together. It also differed for the favor of those living in nuclear families in love dimension in terms of family type and it differed significantly for the favor of upper-income level in terms of family income level as perceived by students. The level of tolerance tendency of students was found to be significantly different in favor of girls according to gender, in favor of parents living together according to their parents' cohabitation status, in favor of those living in nuclear families with values and acceptance dimensions according to family type.