THE ACADEMIC PUBLIC COMMUNICATION OF THE CONCEPT OF FAMILY: A BIBLIOMETRIC APPROACH TO THE 2025 THESIS LITERATURE IN TÜRKİYE

The family, as a core institution of social structure, plays a crucial role in the social, cultural, and psychological development of individuals. This study investigates the structural and thematic characteristics of family-related academic production in Turkey following the declaration of 2025 as the “Year of the Family” by presidential decree. A total of 123 open-access theses containing the term “family” in their titles, published in the National Thesis Center of the Council of Higher Education by May 31, 2025, were analyzed through bibliometric methods. The analysis revealed that 98% of the theses were written in Turkish, 69.9% were authored by women, and quantitative methods (69.1%) were predominantly used. Disciplines such as Family Medicine, Business Administration, Islamic Studies, Social Work, and Psychology were among those addressing family issues. Keyword analysis highlighted frequent use of “parent,” “child,” “woman,” “marriage,” and “therapy.” Overall, the findings demonstrate that family-focused academic studies are produced within an interdisciplinary framework and are strongly connected with themes of gender, health, education, and social welfare. In this context, the proposed Family Institute, to be established in collaboration between the Council of Higher Education and the Ministry of Family and Social Services, is expected to facilitate the integration of academic knowledge and social policy.