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Kheirkhah Alavi S M, Bahmani B, Abdi K. Identifying the Psychological Factors Postponing the Marriage in Iranian Women: A Qualitative Study. IJPCP 2024; 30 (1) : 5031.1
URL: http://ijpcp.iums.ac.ir/article-1-4206-en.html

Objectives Despite the emphasis on early marriage in different cultures, the age at marriage has increased in most countries. Many studies have investigated various factors that prevent marriage; however, psychological factors have been neglected. This study aims to identify the psychological factors that postpone Iranian women’s decision to marry.
Methods This is a qualitative study using the conventional content analysis method. The participants were 14 single women aged 25-41 years in Tehran, Iran in 2023 who were selected using a purposive method until reaching data saturation in semi-structured interviews. Finally, the data was analyzed in MAXQDA 2020 software.
Results The analysis of the interviews led to the extraction of 35 first-order sub-themes, 13 second-order sub-themes, and three main themes: (1) idealistic cognitive beliefs (ideal personality characteristics, ideal relational characteristics, ideal socio-economic characteristics, and ideal family characteristics), (2) negative cognitive attitudes (negative attitudes towards the marriage outcome, negative attitudes towards the marriage, negative attitudes towards childbearing, and prioritizing work over marriage), and (3) individualistic personality traits (perfectionism, intimacy avoidance, emotional orientation, self-centeredness, and negative self-identity perception).
Conclusion Based on the findings, in addition to considering external factors and requirements, Iranian women need to have a positive attitude towards marriage, real expectations and beliefs, and lower individualistic personality traits to have the intention to marry and maintain a desirable marital relationship.