Marriage Formation Research Articles

Розлучення як духовно-етична проблема в контексті християнського вчення

As long as we remember humanity, we remember marriage as a component of this humanity. Different ideas about marriage form different practices of marriage formation, married life and marriage termination. Biblical practices of marriage are also considered in the context of Christian philosophy. The study presents a view of divorce in the Biblical context. In particular, attention is drawn to the position of Christ. The text of Matthew 19:9, where Jesus speaks of divorce, causes discussion primarily because there are differences in the parallel texts of the Gospel of Matthew and Luke. In addition, commentators and researchers interpret this text differently. The first aspect of the literature analysis and its results are interesting in their approach to interpretation and in the various conclusions. The context seems inappropriate at first glance and Matthew frames it this way for a reason. After all, in the issue of divorce, the question of forgiveness is not secondary. A significant part of the work is devoted to the word "debauchery" (gr. πορνείᾳ). Depending on the interpretation of this word, the view of Christ's words about divorce will also depend. And also, the parallel to the Old Testament laws and practices opens a picture of the broad actions of Jesus, who does not simply give advice for the future or create a new law. Jesus parries the interpretation of the law and practices of Israel and does not adapt to any of the schools of interpretation. The article includes the relevance of the study highlighting the problematic. Literature analysis, contextual analysis. Literary and lexical analysis reveals the broad meaning of the word "debauchery" and also shows the two-way responsibility in divorce, both husband and wife. Revealing the historical context and culturally shown practice of easy divorce, where Jesus acts as a complicating legislator.

Inter-Role Conflict and Mental Health in Early Adulthood Females

Inter-role conflict is one of the most common and challenging realities. It occurs when an individual faces dual demands from different roles, and the situation is likely to cause a lot of psychological strains. This kind of conflict was most prevalent among females in the early adulthood age of development, a period that involves a turning point to other important developmental tasks in life such as procurement of employment, further educational pursuits, and formation of settlement or marriage. Work and family responsibilities become intertwined during this phase, as the drive for career advancement merges with other obligations, potentially impacting one's health. The effects of inter-role conflict on mental health can be significant, impacting such outcomes as anxiety, depression, and stress. Anxiety might manifest itself through constant apprehension or a low probability of performing well in one or more positions. At the same time, depression can cause a lack of self-worth and a negative outlook on life. Such mental health issues can lead to maladjustment in behavior, which means that one can become less productive at work as well as seclusion in their relationships. Inter-role conflict, if persistent, causes chronic stress, which worsens these concerns and may lead to irreversible mental health problems. This review also explores the impact of inter-role conflict on mental health outcomes and explores potential strategies to mitigate these effects. Some realistic approaches to reducing the psychological load include time management, role prioritization, and seeking social support. This literature review emphasizes the importance of psychological strategies from existing literature to help young women manage their roles more effectively. Therefore, by integrating literature from the existing research, this study illuminates how inter-role conflict affects early adulthood females’ mental health with a focus on coping strategies.

The Concept of Dissimilation in the Study of Inter-ethnic Marriages within Homogeneous Meskhetian Turkish, Azerbaijani Marriages in Turkestan

While analyzing the preservation of cultural heritage is more straightforward in homogenous households, inter-ethnic marriages present a captivating lens through which to examine cultural integration, social identity, and the preservation of tradition within diverse societies. This study explores the dynamics of inter-ethnic and homogeneous marriages among Meskhetian Turks and Azerbaijanis in Kazakhstan, applying the theoretical framework of dissimilation theory. By drawing on fieldwork conducted in 2024 which involved 45 interviews from two research villages, Turki Poselkasy and Kentau, located in the Turkestan province in the southern part of Kazakhstan, the research investigates the historical context and contemporary realities faced by these communities. In doing so, it highlights differences in culture, language, ​​and social norms that can influence the formation of both mixed and homogeneous marriages among minority groups in the region. The theoretical background of the study is grounded in dissimilation theory, which posits that individuals in inter-ethnic marriages tend to distance themselves from their own ethnic groups to establish new identities within the context of their relationships. Through interviews and surveys conducted across diverse settlements, the study explores social identities and groups as well as concepts of cultural and social differences including gender dynamics, to uncover the intricate mechanisms of dissimilation.

The Rise of Informal Unions in the MENASA Region

Abstract This article examines the nature of informal marriages using data from a 2018 survey of over ten thousand Facebook users in seven Muslim-majority countries: Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Pakistan, Palestine, Tunisia, and Turkey. The article explores current attitudes toward informal marriages as well as the nature of such unions among the predominantly Sunni and Shiʿi Muslim social-media users who took the survey. First, the article finds that informal marriages have diffused across the Sunni Muslim world. These marriages are not necessarily loveless unions between women of modest means looking for financial support and men seeking legitimate sexual partners. In fact, the survey suggests that women in such unions are less likely to be financially dependent on their partners. Informally married spouses are as likely to say that they love their partners as those who are formally wed. However, this love, whether in formal or informal marriages, does not necessarily entail a deep bond between partners who share their most intimate feelings. Marriage—whether formal or informal—is perceived as fragile, not a lifelong commitment. The rates of divorce in the countries surveyed are approaching those in the West. These informal marriages might therefore be thought of as a new form of cohabitation, a practice increasing throughout the world.

Exploring the impact of perceived early marriage on women’s education and employment in Bangladesh through a mixed-methods study

Child marriage negatively affects women’s socio-economic empowerment, particularly in education and employment. This study aimed to explore women’ perspectives on the timing of their marriages, considering their educational and employment status at the time. It also sought to identify factors influencing early married women’s perception of their marriages as timely. We analyzed both quantitative and qualitative data. The quantitative data included a sample of 5,596 women aged 15–24 from the 2017/18 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey. Additionally, we collected qualitative data through six in-depth interviews, two focus group discussions, and 13 key informant interviews. We used a multilevel mixed-effects Poisson regression model to examine the relationship between women’s formal employment, education, and child marriage. Thematic analysis was employed for the qualitative data. Around 62% of the total women analysed reported their married occurred early with the mean age at marriage was 15.2 years. Approximately 55% of the total early married women believed their marriages occurred at the right time, especially among those who were employed at the time of their marriage. Among this subset, we also noticed a higher likelihood of discontinuing work and education following marriage. Qualitative findings revealed reasons behind this perception, such as escaping poverty, safety concerns, limited job prospects, and the impact of non-marital relationship and societal norms. While many early-married women perceived their marriage as timely, particularly those initially employed, this decision often coincides with a subsequent withdrawal from work and education. This underscores the pressing need for policies and programs aimed at educating women about the legal age for marriage and the negative consequences associated with early marriage while also equipping them with knowledge and resources for informed decision-making.

Queer Economics: Same-Sex Marriage Rate vs. Economics Crisis Expectation

Marriage is not just a promise between two individuals; it serves as a bridge between two families and provides the nurturing ground for many new lives. Research studies have indicated that marriage can enhance the subjective well-being of married individuals[i]. However, beneath the weighty commitments and responsibilities, the dissolution of marriage can increase illness rates and psychological distress among divorced women. [ii]While mainstream society still upholds the social stability brought by marriage and advocates it as an indispensable part of the human lifecycle, people are actively exploring alternative romantic relationships or family models, such as cohabitation. Many individuals engage in cohabitation as a prelude to formal marriage, viewing it as an experimental version of married life, enjoying the everyday romantic relationship without the legal costs and property entanglements. [iii]This article considers cohabitation as an alternative to marriage, which can also be understood as a substitution in consumption when people are deterred from marriage due to the high costs associated with divorce. Therefore, strategies people adopt towards marriage are often influenced by changes in societal patterns and the turbulence in politics and the economy. In comparison to heterosexual couples, the dynamics of marriage are more complex for same-sex couples. Apart from the ethical debates surrounding same-sex marriage, economic models have also demonstrated that same-sex marriage poses significant secular challenges. [iv]For instance, issues like post-marriage healthcare for same-sex couples and the impact of their married status on the labor market are still subjects of debate. However, these issues primarily target the challenges and research pertaining to the identity of being a same-sex individual. Nevertheless, as members of society, same-sex couples also experience the fluctuations brought about by broader social cycles, such as the impact of economic crises. There is relatively limited research in the field on how same-sex couples respond to widespread societal crises, and the strategies employed by same-sex couples during different economic crises can effectively reflect the natural state of this community within society.[v] [i] Janice K Kiecolt-Glaser and Tamara L Newton. (2001). Marriage and Health: His and Hers. American Psychological Association. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2001-01085-002. [ii] Frederick O Lorenz et al. (2006). The Short-Term and Decade-Long Effects of Divorce on Women’s Midlife Health. American Sociological Association. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/002214650604700202. [iii] Brandon G Wagner, Kate H Choi, and Philip N Cohen. (2020). Decline in Marriage Associated with the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States. Sage Journals. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2378023120980328. [iv] DOUGLAS W ALLEN. (2006). An Economic Assessment of Same-Sex Marriage Laws. Semantic scholar. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/An-Economic-Assessment-of-Same-Sex-Marriage-Laws-Allen/513a92f3d397ae2b787094294aa465d48053ef53. [v] Malaczewska Paulina and Malaczewski Maciej. (1970, January 1). Marriage, Divorce and Coronavirus—Theoretical Analysis of the Influence of COVID-19 on Family Capital. Economics and Business Review. https://ideas.repec.org/a/vrs/ecobur/v8y2022i3p126-142n7.html.

Demographic consequences of social movements: local protests delay marriage formation in Ethiopia

Abstract Despite their significance, life-course dynamics are rarely considered as consequences of social movements. We address this shortcoming by investigating the relationship between protest and marriage formation in Ethiopia. Building on scholarship in social movements and insights from family demography, we argue that exposure to protest delays marriage formation. To test our theoretical arguments, we created an original panel dataset using georeferenced data from the 2016 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey. We combined the marriage histories of 4,398 young women with fine-grained measures of exposure to local protests that we compiled from two conflict datasets covering events between 2002 and 2016. Using discrete-time event history analyses, we find that protest delays first-marriage formation. Additional analyses suggest that political uncertainty and disruptions in interethnic marriages cannot explain this effect. Instead, we provide tentative evidence that protest delays marriage formation by preoccupying large segments of the marriageable population, rendering them unavailable for this critical life-course transition. Our findings pave the way for scholarship on the demographic outcomes of protest and contribute to understanding marriage patterns in a country where the timing of marriage has far-reaching social consequences.

Navigating the Legal Landscape, a comprehensive study on Live-In Relationships in India

A concept live-in-relationship progressed with the changing times and with the changing social rules of society. As we can see a crucial change in our Indian Culture and in its social construction in the recent years. That crucial change is called live-in-relationships. It means the cohabitation of individuals without formal marriage. But, still these type of bonds doesn’t have any legal recognition and considered taboo in India. As it is considered against the rituals and the norms of any society and culture, but in today’s times, these relationships are being accepted in various places of India. Historically, Indian society primarily adhered to the sanctity of marital institutions. However, societal changes of shifting mindsets and legal development have gradually reshaped perceptions surrounding live-in relationships. In today’s time live-in relationships are not considered as a criminal offence and they are not illegal. Every culture of society is subject to change and so has the Indian society. The form of togetherness and love has taken a different form known as live-in relationships. My research aims to overview the acknowledged status of live-in relationships in India.

Investigating communication actions in successful marriages:A Qualitative study

Aim: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the communication actions of successful marriages Method: This study was conducted in a qualitative manner based on grounded theory. Society: The research includes successful couples based on their own admission, examining the achievements of their joint lives and implementing the Enrich Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire (1993), the short form of which was validated by Alidousti et al successful and satisfied were selected. In total, (10 couples) were studied in Ahvaz city in 1401 by purposeful sampling until the theoretical saturation of the data. The data collection tool was a semi-structured interview using Strauss and Corbin's method of constant comparison analysis. Findings: The analysis of the findings showed that communication actions in successful marriages have four main components including, main family functions, suitable marriage formation factors; Effective communication skills and character formation in childhood. Conclusion: A successful marriage is related to the family structure of people. Therefore, experts can use the concepts extracted in this research to identify and examine the communication characteristics of successful families, which is a guide in couples therapy and pre-marital counseling.

THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE GAZE CEREMONIES OF THE TURKIC INTERNATIONAL

Over the centuries, it has developed in various historical regions Uzbekistan, becoming a single and rich system of Customs. In addition to being a formal marriage ceremony, a wedding is also a system of interrelated solemn traditions (girl consent, courtship, marriage period, pre-wedding customs, wedding, etc. National marriage customs reflect all the positive characteristics of the people of Uzbekistan. The marriage traditions of Uzbekistaninfluenced the traditions of other peoples and received certain elements from the culture of other peoples. The effect of time on wedding habits is felt. Recently, as a rule, weddings are held in special wedding palaces, the bride and groom dance , little girls in angelic dresses dance around the bride and groom, time isallocated for modern dancing at the wedding, the bride is thrown, a bouquet is thrown at the end of the wedding, the honeymoon is also of this type.

Cohabitation and Marriage Formation in Times of Fertility Decline: The Case of Sweden in the Twenty-First Century

Developments over time in the prevalence of marriage and cohabitation formation has long received much interest, but less is known about more recent developments for different population subgroups in European countries. This applies as well to Sweden, a country considered a forerunner in family-demographic change. In contrast, much attention has been paid to the falling birth rates during the 2010s, and explanations that focus on the role of increasing uncertainties. In the Swedish case, the fertility decline has been documented across all main socio-demographic subgroups. The objective of this study is to examine whether the same situation holds for first marriage and cohabitation formation during the 2010s and the exceptional years of the Covid-19 pandemic. Based on Swedish population registers, including with new cohabitation data, we present annual indices of first marriage formation (1991–2022) and cohabitation formation (2012–2022) across a number of socio-demographic strata. We demonstrate a continuous decline in first marriage formation since the early 2010s with an additional sharp dip during the pandemic and a post-pandemic recovery. In contrast, there was a remarkable stability in cohabitation formation during 2012–2022. Although socio-demographic groups differ in their overall levels of marriage and cohabitation formation, the recent trends are strikingly similar across groups. Cohabiting couples, across population subgroups, have become less inclined to transition their union status to a more committed level, as manifested by marriage or parenthood. This occurred in spite of a positive economic climate in the 2010s and stable family policies, indicating that other forces are at play.

The variability of age at first marriage across birth cohort and education level: the case of Taiwan

ABSTRACT The variability of age at first marriage has implications for the destandardisation of life course and the deinstitutionalisation of the marriage institution. Previous studies, based on Western societies, suggest a more dispersed variability in recent cohorts. However, despite the rise in women’s education, the universal ideology of formal marriage, the powerful link between formal marriage and childbearing, and collectivism in East Asian societies may constrain variability in marriage timing. Also, women with different levels of education experience different life course sequences and interactions with marriage, leading to heterogeneous changes in the variability of age at first marriage. Using the Women’s Marriage, Fertility, and Employment Survey in Taiwan, this article presents a representative case of changing marriage and childbearing behaviours in East Asia. Our results show that the variability among women without a high school degree has become more dispersed in more recent birth cohorts. In contrast, variability of age at first marriage among highly educated women has remained consistent. The educational differences became more salient in recent cohorts, especially in women born after 1960. Our findings contribute to the literature on how the life course and the institution of marriage have diverged across education levels over birth cohorts in East Asia.

The Role of Community Leadership in Combating Child Marriage for Promotion of Girl-Child Education in Jonglei State, South Sudan: A Case of Dinka Bor Community

Child marriage remains pervasive in many African societies and is strongly linked to culture and religion. It involves any marriage where one or both parties are under 18. Even though it refers to both girls and boys, an overwhelming number of informal and formal child marriages in Africa involve girls. Child marriage is a frequent and widely prevalent phenomenon in South Sudan, which occurs mainly in post-conflict settings. Statistically, 52% of South Sudanese girls are married before age 18, and 9% are married before age 15. The study adopted a qualitative case study design and focused on understanding the role of Dinka Bor community leaders and how they act in combating early marriage. The research techniques employed included observation, key informants, and in-depth interviews with community leaders. The study finds that girls are often denied school because of the cultural view that they are considered marriage materials necessary to acquire wealth in the form of bride prices. In addition, rural areas are worst affected, with few schools available located very far. Thus, it leads to frustration and school dropout. The study also establishes that it is not only culture that deters girl-child education, but poverty and social media are among the factors that drive child marriages in Jonglei State, South Sudan. Also, in the study, although legislations prohibit child marriages, the consent of the parents or guardian appears to be an undeterred factor that drives child marriage. In conclusion, community leaders appear to be playing a significant role in supporting government policies concerning child marriage and education in recent years

Certain aspects of the problems of establishing marital and family relations according to the law of ancient eastern countries

It is pointed out that the issue of marriage and family relations of the Ancient World era and, in particular, Ancient Eastern societies, has always been in the field of view of domestic and foreign researchers. Such scientific interest in it is quite understandable in view of the need to clarify the essence of the emergence of the institution of the family, the factors that determined the evolution of this social phenomenon, the adjustment of the legal regulation of this process in the direction of optimizing marital and family relations in accordance with the level of development of society at each of the its stages. One cannot but agree, in this connection, with the opinion of the famous American philosopher of German origin, Felix Adler, that «the family is a society in miniature, on the integrity of which depends the safety of the entire large human society».
 The article is devoted to the analysis of certain aspects of the process of formation of marriage and family institutions under the law of the countries of the Ancient East. An attempt was made to reveal certain regularities of this process, in particular, the nature of the family as a social institution, marriage as a form of its realization in the oldest local civilizations of the Near East known to science. A partial comparative and legal analysis of the features of this segment of social relations in certain states of the Ancient East was carried out and the factors that, in the opinion of the author, determined these features were outlined.
 In a broad context, it was established that family, marriage, as a form of its implementation, are dynamic social institutions that are directly dependent on the level of development of society. Therefore, their form and content must correspond to the nature of social relations, establish the principles that are dominant in this society, while ensuring its harmonious development.

Young Chinese’s Modern Arranged Marriage and Mosaic Familialism in Shanghai

Abstract With rapid socio-economic development over the past four decades, a unique tapestry of Chinese society has unfolded into a mosaic of rapid modernization and resurgent patriarchal tradition. Within this complex temporality, parents still remain salient in young Chinese’ love and marital life. This study uses data from semi-structured interviews with recently married young people and their parents to investigate how young adults and their parents are involved in the marriage formation process. We found that in this joint process of intergenerational cooperative marriage arrangement, young people and their parents play different roles, as accommodating decision-makers and respectful advisers, respectively. They agreed that a modern marriage based on individual, romantic love was also a union between two families and welcomed their parents’ involvement. Moreover, they considered getting married and taking their parents’ opinions and preferences into account in their marriage decision as part of their filial piety towards their parents. We have also found that mothers played a salient and significant role in facilitating the transformation of the traditional and distant patriarchal intergenerational relationship into a warm and supportive family union. There are two sides to the mother’s role: the entrenchment of the traditional gender roles and the elevation of women’s status in the family.

Sociological Analysis of Youth Value Structures in the Lived Experience of Cohabitation

The value structure of youth concerning marriage has undergone significant changes, one of which is exemplified by the increasing prevalence of cohabitation. This article aims to provide a sociological analysis of the value structure of young people within the lived experience of cohabitation in Tehran. The research methodology employed is a mixed-methods approach, utilizing both grounded theory and survey techniques. Data collection tools included interviews and questionnaires, respectively. The study's target population comprised all young individuals with cohabitation experience in Tehran, with 18 participants selected through purposive sampling for the qualitative section and 128 participants for the survey. Qualitative data were analyzed through a three-stage coding process—open coding, axial coding, and selective coding—resulting in the extraction of 144 concepts from the initial data. This process led to the identification of 41 categories and 18 themes. In the final stage of selective coding, the central phenomenon identified was "selective hedonism." Subsequently, the categories were transformed into questionnaire items. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and SPSS22 software. The data analysis reveals that the causal conditions include individual worldview, economic challenges, rejection of traditional culture, desire for independence, sexual and emotional hedonism, and dissatisfaction with formal marriage. The intervening conditions consist of globalization, cultural and social changes, the country's flawed economic structure, and liberation from conventional marriage and divorce norms. The strategies identified are hiding the relationship, resisting tradition, frugality, and implementing macro-structural measures. The outcomes include rational choice, individual and social isolation, reduced levels of commitment and responsibility, and an increase in open relationships within society.

Peer Effects and Marriage Formation

Peer Effects and Marriage Formation

Recent Changes in Marriage Formation and Dissolution Behaviour in Czechia

Marriage formation and dissolution behaviours have changed significantly over time in Czechia. This article studies in greater detail the marital behaviour changes observed in the period 1993–2022 using the LIPRO 4.0 multistate programme, which allows for a detailed analysis of changes in life expectancy according to years spent in each marital state, marriage formation and dissolution behaviours, and the average ages at the time of different marital status events. The probabilities for the transition to the divorced and to the remarried state at selected ages are also presented, along with a status-quo projection of the Czech population until 2030. The results indicate the continued postponement of marriage and subsequent marital events. Czechs have been spending an increasing time never-married since the establishment of Czechia. However, recent improvements in first marriage and remarriage rates at the same time as declining divorce rates since 2019 suggest a renewed interest in marriage. Despite these positive developments, the population projection indicates a continued increase in the never-married population.

Investigating the Experience of Spouse Selection in Children of Divorce: AQualitative Research

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the experience of spouse selection in children of divorce. Methods: The present study was a qualitative phenomenological type. The present study's statistical population included 6 women and 4 men who wanted to divorce and had experienced the divorce of their parents in Kermanshah in 2022. The participants were selected by the available sampling method and the sampling continued until data saturation. The data were first recorded and coded to analyze the data, and then they were analyzed using the thematic analysis method. Findings: The results of the research included 6 main themes and 19 sub-themes of the participants' experiences. The sub-themes included negative social attitude, problems of not being distinguished from the family, psychological problems, communication problems with the spouse and the spouse's family, feeling valuable as a person different from the parents, and adapting and building a life different from the parents. Conclusion: The results of the research showed that the children of divorce have negative experiences during the formation of life and marriage, which can lead to wrong choices or incompatibility and mental health problems in them. On the other hand, they also have positive experiences that make them learn from their parent's mistakes and seek education and counseling services to improve their marital life satisfaction and lead a better life than their parents.

Cohabiting couple's economic organization and marriage patterns across social classes.

Empirically examine whether different economic theories of marriage formation predict the transition from cohabitation to marriage differently across social classes. Less-educated individuals marry their cohabiting partners at lower rates than their college-educated peers, but the reasons for this are unknown. Few studies have examined the intersection of social class and couple-level economic resources to understand if the potentially gendered economic determinants of marriage vary according to a couple's social location. Couple-month data come from the 2014 Survey of Income and Program Participation, including 1,879 cohabiting couples, 478 of whom transition to marriage. Logistic regression is used to test whether the marriage bar, gender specialization, gendered institutions, or gender revolution framework best predicts the likelihood of marrying. Joint indicators of the marriage bar and the gendered economic organization of couples both predict marriage, but the specific gendered organization varies by the couple's level of education. Among couples where neither partner has a college degree, male-breadwinning couples are most likely to marry; dual-earning couples are most likely to marry among more-educated couples. Although college-educated couples seem to have shifted to a more egalitarian model of marriage, as predicted by the gender revolution framework, the marriages of the less-educated are still characterized by traditional arrangements, in line with the idea that marriage is a gendered institution. By showing that different theories predict marriage depending on the couple's social position, these findings provide groundwork to explore why the less educated are increasingly less likely to marry their cohabiting partners.