Journal of Qualitative Research in Health Sciences

Authors

Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz

Abstract

Introduction: Given the space literature on explaining how the attitudes toward marriage are formed in Iran, this study aimed to explain the formation process of attitude toward marriage in Iranian married students.
Method: This was a qualitative study of the grounded theory type in the academic year of 2014-2015. The sample consisted of 18 married students in Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Iran, chosen through purposive sampling. In-depth and semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect the data. Data analysis was carried out using Strauss and Corbin’s three-step coding model (open, axial, selective).
Results: The "relative change in attitudes toward marriage" was central class of paradigmatic pattern. The classes of sociocultural factors, early experiences, and observation of incomplete patterns were the causal conditions in this pattern. Three classes of awareness of and understanding each other, material and spiritual support, and realizing the sanctity of marriage were the intervening conditions. Pressures for marriage, interference of parents, intergenerational transmission, as well as economic factors were regarded as contextual conditions. Coping strategies proportional to attitudes were identified as interactive actions. Perceived personal development and willingness in marriage, ambivalence toward deciding to marry, and increase in the age of marriage were provided as the consequences of this paradigmatic pattern.

Conclusion: According to paradigmatic pattern, changing attitudes towards marriage is a fundamental factor in encouraging young people to marry, which can be implemented through a systematic approach. According to this approach, promoting successful patterns of marriage in society, moral and material support by parents, teaching coping strategies commensurate with the challenges of marriage, increasing marriage preparation skills, and government support in forming counseling units run by professional family psychologists and counselors are recommended.

Keywords

1. Nietzel MT, Harris MJ. Creative ways to keep romance alive. retrieved. September 2008 .http://www.heartnhome.com . 2. Jones GW. Not ‘When to marry’ but ‘Whether to marry’: the changing context of marriage decisions in East and Southeast Asia. In G. W. Jones & K. Ramdas (Eds.), Untying the knot: ideal and reality in Asian marriage (pp. 3–56). Singapore: Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore; 2004. 3. Nobles J, Buttenheim, A. Marriage and socioeconomic change in contemporary Indonesia. Journal of Marriage and Family 2008; 70(4): 904-918. 4. Memani P, Mathitti V. A comparative study of the marital attitudes of students from divorced, intact and single parent families.University of Western cape; 2003, http:// etd uwc.ac.za./index.php. 5. Willoughby B, Hall S, Luczak H. Marital Paradigms: A Conceptual Framework for Marital Attitudes, Values, and Beliefs. published online Journal of Family Issues 2013; 32(4): 1–24. 6. Sharp EA, Ganeng LH.Rasing awareeness about marital expectation are unrealistic beliefs changed by integrative teaching?; 2000, http:// www. blackwe; synergy. com . 7. Parrott L, Parrott L. I Love More: how everyday problems can strenghthen your marriage. The Office Of Planning, Research, Evaluation in the Administration for Children and Families ,Department Of Health and Human Service; 2005. 8. Williams L. Attitudes toward marriage in northern vietnam: what qualitative data reveal about variations across gender, generation, and geography. Journal of Population Research 2010; 26(4):285-304. 9. Kirby E. Coexisting detraditionalization and retraditionalization in young white middle class women’s marriage attitudes, Thesis School of Humanities and Social Science, University of Newcastle Callaghan, South Wales, Australia; 2008. 10. Perry AR. African American Men’s Attitudes Toward Marriage, Journal of Black Studies 2013; 44(2): 182–202. 11. Ferguson M. Exploring Family environment characteristics and multiple abuse experiences among homeless youth. Journal of Interpersonal Violence 2009;25(2):146-152. 12. Reid JM.You want me what? Family and Consumer Science [online]; 2003. Available: www.ohioline.osu.edu/flm. ./Article;pp49. 13. Harris KM, Lee H. The development of marriage expectatations attitudes, desire from adolescence in to young adulthood, unpublished master thesis. university of North carrolinal at chapel Hill. Department of sociology and the Carolina population center; 2006. 14. Khojasteh Mehr R, Mombeini J & Aslani Kh. A comparison of attitude toward marriage, attitude toward divorce and peer attachment of male high school students in divorced and intact families, Journal of school psychology,2013;.2(3):182-190. 15. Riggio H, Weiser D. Attitudes toward marriage:Embeddedness and outcomes in personal relationships. Personal Relationships 2008; 15(1): 123-140. 16. Sergin C, Nabi RL. Dose Television Viewing Cultivate Unrealistic Expectation about marriage. Journal of communication 2003; 52 (2): 247-263. 17. Civil Status Registration Organization. Moment by moment report of critical events (marriage and divorce). www.sabteahval.ir, 2014. 18. Barrie R. "A Qualitative Exploration of African American Men's Attitudes Toward Marriage". Dissertations. Paper 294. [online]; 2012. Available: http:// ecommons. Luc. edu/ luc_diss/294 . 19. Carroll JS, Willoughby B, Badger S, Nelson LJ, Barry CM, Madsen SD. So close, yet so far away: The impact of varying marital horizons on emerg‌ing adulthood. ournal of Adolescent Research 2007; 22(3): 219-247. 20. Hall SS. Marital meaning: Exploring young adults’ belief systems about marriage. Journal of Family Issues 2006; 27(2): 1437-1458. 21. Hall SS. Implicit theories of the marital institution. Marriage & Family Review 2012; 48(1): 1-19. 22. Axinn WG, Thornton A. The relationship between cohabitation and divorce: selectivity or causal influence? Demography 1992; 29 (3): 357-374. 23. Oropesa RS. Normative beliefs about marriage and cohabitation: A comparison of non-Latino Whites, Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans. Journal of Marriage and the Family 1996; 58(1): 49-62. 24. Sassler S, Schoen R. The effect of attitudes and economic activity of marriage. Journal of Marriage mod the Family 1999; 61(2): 147-159. 25. Clarkberg M, Stolzenberg RM, Waite LJ. Attitudes, values, and entrance in to cohabitational versus marital ::union::s. Social Forces 1995; 74(1): 609-634. 26. Dennison RP, Koerner SS. post-divorce interparental conflict and adolescents' attitudes about marriage: The influence of maternal disclosures and adolescent gender. Journal of Divorce Remarriage 2006; 45(2): 31-49. 27. Carrol J, Badger S, Willoughby B, Nelson L, Madsen L, Barry C. Ready or Not? Criteria for Marriage Readiness Among Emerging Adults. Journal of Adolescent Research 2009; 24(3):349-375. 28. Larson JH, Lamont C. The relationship of child sexual abuse to the marital attitudes and readiness for marriage of single young adult women. Journal of Family Issues 2005; 26(4): 415-430. 29. Mahay J, Lewin AC. Age and the desire to marry. Journal of Family Issues 2007; 28(2): 706-723. 30. Laner MR, Russell JN. Course content and change in students: Are marital expectations altered by marriage education. Teaching Sociology 1994; 22(1), 10-18. 31. Steinberg SJ, Davila J, Fincham F. Adolescent marital expectations and romantic experiences: associations with perceptions about parental conflict and adolescent attachment security. Journal of Young and Adolescence 2006; 35(3): 333-348. 32..Fowers BJ, Lyons E, Montel KH, Shaked N. Positive illusions about marriage among married and single individuals, Journal of Family Psychology 2001; 15(1), 95-109. 33. Plotnick RD. Adolescent expectations and desires about marriage and parenthood. Journal of Adolescence 2007; 30(4): 943-963. 34. Markman HJ. Preventing marital distress through communication and conflict management training .journal of counseling and clinical psychology 2008; 111(1): 70-78. 35. Crosby J. Reply to myth: Perspectives on intimacy. New York: Wiley; 1985. 36. Hetringtoun N. Perception of marriage and rationality by levels of perceived health in the family of origin. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy 2010;96(2):193-195. 37. Gotman J.The rotes of conflict engagement ,escalation and avoidance in marital interaction: a longitudinal view of hive type of couples. Journal of Counseling and Clinical Psychology 1993; 68(3):6-17. 38. Adib Hajbagher M, Parvizi S, Salsali M. Qualitative research approach. Tehran, Iran: Tanin Publication; 2008. ]In Parsian.[ 39. Creswell J. Qualitative inquiry and research design. Sage publications; 2007. 40. Strauss A, Corbin J. Basics of qualitative research:Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory 2( nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage; 1998. 41. Simpson J, Campbell A, Berscheid E. The Association between Romantic Love and Marriage. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin 1986; 12(1): 363-372. 42. Stevenson B, Wolfers J. Marriage and Divorce: Changes and their Driving Forces. Journal of Economic Perspectives 2007; 21(2): 27-52. 43. Wise R, King S. Family environment and friendship qualities. Journal of Family Issues 2008;36(4): 827-831. 44. Stone MK, Hutchinson RL. Familial conflict and attitudes toward marriage. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage 2009;76(1): 54-68. 45. Heater KK. Investigation‌ of Variable Influencing Colledge Students Marital Attitudes and Fear of Intimacy. Dissertation: Ph. D. Ball State University 2005. 46. Show N, Lum E. Trends in family attitudes and values in Hong Kong. Final Report Submitted. The University of Hong Kong; 2008. 47. Dillon HN, Chair PC, Dixon W, Ellis J .Family violence and divorce: effects on marriage expectations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2005; 43(5):93-120. Available form http: //Sciencedirect. Com. 48. Afrooz Gh. The letter of Dr. Gholamali Afrooz to President H. Rohani in 2013, published in special issue of Family Psychology Association of Iran, 2013.