Research Article
Cultural Value Orientations and Self-Models Among Turkish Emerging Adults: Analyses of Scale Validation, Regression, and Change over Time
Kamile Bahar Aydin*
,
Nailakhanim Rustamova
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 2, June 2026
Pages:
31-50
Received:
21 September 2026
Accepted:
14 October 2026
Published:
3 November 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijps.20260602.11
Downloads:
Views:
Abstract: Culture is an environmental factor that broadly influences human psychology. State policies and practices are the most important determinant of culture. The public, characterized by a prevalent self-model, acts as the primary overseer of state governance. This prevalent model of self within society plays a fundamental role in the continuity of culture by sustaining state governance. This research offers significant implications regarding this system of relationships. This study was conducted on 1,310 emerging adults aged 18-29 who grew up under the conditions in Türkiye. Within the scope of the study's objectives, the key findings can be summarized as follows: The original Cultural Value Orientations Scale (CVOS) consists of 30 items and sub-factors of Individualism, Collectivism, and Familism. Validity and reliability analyses performed on the CVOS revealed a different version with the same sub-factors, but 15 items for the Turkish sample. Convergent validity was determined by examining the relationships between the sub-factors of the CVOS and the Autonomy and Relatedness sub-factors of Autonomous-Relatedness Self Scale-Revised (ARSS-R). In this analysis, Individualism has a positive correlation with Autonomy, but does not correlate with Relatedness. Collectivism and Familism have a positive correlation with Relatedness, but a negative correlation with Autonomy. These findings demonstrate that CVOS has a convergent validity when considering of Family Change Theory. A K-Means Cluster Analysis was performed on the ARSS-R data, yielding four self-models: Heteronomous-related, Heteronomous-separated, Autonomous-related, and Autonomous-separated. The relationships between these self-models and the sub-factors of CVOS were examined using Multinomial Logistic Regression Analysis, with the Heteronomous-separated as the reference category. Accordingly, cultural value orientations predicted self-models: Individualism increased the odds of both the Autonomous-related and Autonomous-separated self-models, but it did not distinguish the Heteronomous-related from the Heteronomous-separated. As the literature shows, Individualism thrives in contexts with higher socioeconomic status and a better public order. Collectivism, on the other hand, increased the odds of the Heteronomous-related. Familism increased the odds of the Heteronomous-related and decreased the odds of the Autonomous-separated. When changes over time were examined, it was found that Familism and the Heteronomous-separated (a maladaptive self-model) were at their highest levels. It is recommended that a new Turkish culture scale be developed taking into account Türkiye's actual conditions (such as familism, ethnicism, ethnic polarization against Turkish national identity, a lifestyle centered on religious fallacy and sexuality), and that the state administration raise socioeconomic status, ensure public order, and foster Individualism and Autonomous-related self-model.
Abstract: Culture is an environmental factor that broadly influences human psychology. State policies and practices are the most important determinant of culture. The public, characterized by a prevalent self-model, acts as the primary overseer of state governance. This prevalent model of self within society plays a fundamental role in the continuity of cult...
Show More
