Abstract

The family is the core and fundamental unit of society, as well as the oldest and most universal institution. Industrialization, urbanization, and technological developments have affected the family institution as they have other institutions. Changes in the structure, functions, and roles of the family have brought about some social problems, one of which is divorce. Divorces are rapidly increasing worldwide and in our country, leading to many social and legal problems, and forensic medicine is often consulted to verify the claims of spouses. Among those applying for divorce to the 1st, 4th, and 5th Family Courts of Konya Courthouse, 697 cases were selected, and the reasons leading to the dissolution of their marriages by divorce, as well as their sociodemographic status, were examined. Among those filing for divorce, 495 (71%) were women, 199 (28.6%) were men, and in 3 applications, both husband and wife filed together. The average age at divorce was found to be 36.3 for men and 32.6 for women. It was determined that 5 (0.7%) of the men and 326 (46.8%) of the women experienced domestic violence; among these women subjected to domestic violence, 294 (88.8%) were abused only by their husbands, while 32 (9.7%) were subjected to violence by family members such as mother-in-law, father-in-law, or brother-in-law. Among the reasons for divorce, 645 (92.5%) involved severe incompatibility (mental and emotional discord).The dissolution of marriage is one of the most significant problems both worldwide and in our country. To reduce divorce rates, it is appropriate to inform couples about the importance and difficulties of marriage before they marry, to provide opportunities for them to get to know each other and to understand whether they are suitable for marriage, to offer state assistance in case of economic difficulties to prevent domestic violence, and to provide psychiatric counseling services to spouses before marriage, during marriage, and during the divorce process.

Key words: Family, marriage, divorce, domestic violence