The study of Socio-cultural and Economic Factors in Negative Attitudes to Marriage

Attitude to marriage is one of the key mechanisms for predicting actual behavior in marriage. It is influenced by multiple, social, cultural and economic factors. This study aimed to investigate the causes and the various factors that affect the attitude of young people to marriage. Because of the multidimensional nature of human and social phenomena and the multiplicity of theories about different aspects of marriage, this research attempts to combine related theories in order to offer a better understanding and explanation of negative attitudes resulting to late marriage. The study was a social survey and data collection was done using questionnaires and interviews. The sample included the population (65-15 years) of the city of Kashan in 2012. Using Cochran sampling formula 620 participants were selected for the study. Research findings showed that there were meaningful relationships between negative attitudes to marriage on the one hand, and familial conditions, economic situation, high expectations, unemployment, high cost of marriage, moral deviations, improper media functions, and fear of the future on the other hand. Attenuation of religious beliefs (F =15.57) and high costs of marriage (F= 10.49) were the strongest predictors).