Intent, attitudes, expectations, and purposes of marriage in Iran: a mixed methods study

Abstract

Significant sociocultural shifts in Iran have led to profound transformations in marriage (Kazemi-pour 2009). The aims of this study were to a) examine Iranian adults’ intentions to marry as well as their attitudes and expectations related to marriage; b) make comparisons based on participants’ gender, age, and education; and c) explore the purposes of marriage. There were 858 participants (59% females and 41% males) in the age range of 18 to 42 years. They completed a) demographic items, b) the Marital Scales, which assess marriage intent, attitudes, and expectations, and c) a semi-structured interview on their intent and purposes of marriage. The results revealed that 96% of the participants intended to marry and significant gender, age, and educational differences were found. The three main purposes of marriage were emotional, religious, and sexual, respectively. These results have important implications for practitioners, particularly those who specialize in premarital counseling.