Social Network of Mate Selection and Marital Satisfaction Among the Married Men

In general, the model of decision making is discussed in the economic field. This model includes a five-step process that leads to a purchase. These steps include identifying the problem, seeking, evaluation of alternatives, selection and evaluation after the acquisition. Following the economic model of decision making, Mate selection can also be considered as a process. But for adapting the model of mate selection with the economic model of decision making, some theoretical modifications and adjustments has been done. Therefore, the mate selection process can be divided into three steps: 1- Seeking the potential partner 2- Searching information about a potential partner, and 3-Final decision and consultation about this decision. Sociology has been long faced with this problem that how can examine empirically the relationships between entities at different levels of society. In response to this problem, for the first time in 1940, the concept of “social network” was introduced by Radcliffe Brown in anthropology. The researchers have used the concept of “social network” as a metaphor to describe a complex set of relationships between people. There are several and almost similar definitions of the concept of “social network” that generally includes following points: 1-Social network includes social relations and social actors. 2- Social network is a set of social relations among the social actors. There are various types of social relations. Social actors can also be individuals, groups, and organizations. 3- In the network literature, “Tie” or “link” is the “social relation” and “node” is the “social actor”. Based on the points provided above and the subject of mate selection, the social network of mate selection is defined as “A set of social relations among the social actors who involve and play a role in the mate selection process including seeking the partner (introducing), Searching information about a partner (inquiry) and consulting with person about the final decision for marring with the target potential mate”. According to the Network theorists, social networks have different characteristics. One of the major categories of network characteristics has been carried out by Israel and Randers. According to him, these characteristics include structural characteristics of network (including size, diversity and composition of the network) and functional characteristics of network (social support). The following have been described each of these characteristics and its relationships to the subject of this research. Network size is Journal of Applied Sociology, 24th Year, 6 Vol. 49, No. 1, Spring 2013 the total number of people with whom one is connected or the total number of people who provide many different types of support for him. The larger the network size of mate selection, the person (respondent or “ego” in this study) will receive more support during the marital life. Since the chance of social support receiving from the network members of mate selection increases through the increasing the number of network members. The larger the network size of network, the chance of receiving support from one person among the set of persons increases. Network composition is determined by the percentage of certain relationships within the network; Percentage of relatives, friends, neighbors and colleagues. The more the ratio of relatives’ relations in the social network of mate selection, because of the social support that they provide for individuals throughout life, Leads to a more satisfaction in marital life. Network diversity is referred to the difference or similarity of network members with each other and central person (“ego”) according to the attributes such as sexuality, age, education and etc. The more the diversity in the social network of mate selection, because of the social support that provided for individuals throughout life, Leads to a more satisfaction in marital life. 1- The larger the network size of network, the chance of receiving support from one person among the set of persons increases. 2- The more the ratio of relatives’ relationships in the social network of mate selection, because of the social support that they provide for individuals throughout life, Leads to a more satisfaction in marital life. 3- The more the diversity in the social network of mate selection, because of the social support that provided for individuals throughout life, Leads to a more satisfaction in marital life. The research conducted by survey method and data was collected by the interview technique. In this study, ego- centered network approach was used; meaning that the information about the characteristics of the social network mate selection were collected by the ego (the married men in this study); rather than of referring to all members of the network for information collecting.Statistical population of this study was “the all married men in Mashhad city in 1389”. The sampling method of this study was the combination of multi-stage clustering and stratified sampling. Cochran's formula is used to determine sample size that based on that formula, 180 married men has been estimated as a sample.Discussion of Results and Conclutions: Descriptive findings showed that - The average size of social network of mate selection of each person was two (persons); meaning that on average two persons in the process of marriage, including the introduction of a marriage partner, and investigating about wife and counsel, had an active involvement.- Network composition of mate selection was more relatives; 80 percent of members of network had relative relationship with the ego and 80% of them are the family members. Overall, among the network of mate selection, the percentage of certain relationships with an order of preference, was relatives (80%, among which the 80 were the family members of ego), friends (7%), neighbors (4 %), colleagues (3%), and college classmates, acquaintances and in the last were strangers.- Members of social network of mate selection had a little diversity according to the economic - social status and it reflects the homogeneity of members of social network of mate selection.- Social network of mate selection provided more informational and advice support for ego at the mate selection process time and provide more social support during the marital life.Social Network of Mate Selection and Marital Satisfaction Among the Married Men 7 - 66% of network mate selection members of married men were women and 33% were males. This point is quite consistent with Heidari's findings (1379).Therefore men get helped women more and women get helped men more.- Approximately, 80 percent of members of social network of mate selection had low and very low economic – social status, since the number of women in the social network of mate selection is more than men and women in the variables of economic – social status composed of education, job and salary had low rank. - On average, people's marital satisfaction is strong.Since the hypotheses of this research were there- variable, in order to check this hypotheses, structural equation modeling was used. Lisrel analysis showed that all three hypotheses were confirmed.Multiple regression results show that the size of social network of mate selection, has a large and significant effect on the diversity of social status of members of social network of mate selection (Beta coefficient of network size on social support was 0.71). The size of social network of mate selection has a positive impact on social support of social network of mate selection during the marital life; (Beta coefficient of network size on social support was 0.6).The social support of social network of mate selection has a positive effect on marital satisfaction during the marital life; it means that the more social support provided by social network of mate selection to ego, the marital satisfaction of ego increases. (Beta coefficient of support on marital satisfaction was 0.161.)The duration of marriage and the economic–social status of ego have positive effect on the marital satisfaction. Importantly, this research showed the important role of relative relationships on marriage. The presence of relatives in mate selection is a characteristic of Iranian culture as a collectivist culture. The relatives have longer familiar with the ego and have a greater knowing of personality and Morality of ego. The relatives who know the ego and also be involved in the mate selection process, supported him during his life, Therefore ego is more satisfied from his marital life, because of more supporting provided to him. Meanwhile, the more the number of people who involved in mate selection process – or the more the number of relatives involved in mate selection process - ego is more satisfied from marital life because of the more social support received.