Analyzing and prioritizing of criteria of spouse selection in single students of Guilan university

Marriage is the first and most important stage in the process of family-life and it starts with the choosing of a spouse (wife/husband) and success in the later stages of life is dependent on success in this stage. The aim of this research was to study and prioritize the criteria of spouse selection among single students of Guilan University. The method of research is descriptive-survey. The statistical population consisted of all single students of Guilan University in the 2011-2012 academic year, among which a sample of 372 students (181 boys and 191 girls) was selected by random cluster sampling method, which completed a questionnaire on the criteria of spouse selection that was made by the researcher. The findings of the exploratory factor analysis of the questionnaire identified these 6 factors; psychological state, socio-economic status, religiosity, beauty, appearance, and morality as the as the criteria for spouse selection in the youth the results of MANOVA showed there is a significant difference between the male and female students as far as these extracted factors are considered. Psychological state, morality, and economic-social status were the most important factors for the female students while psychological state, morality, and appearance were of greater importance for the male students. Prioritizing of selective criteria showed fidelity, honesty, and obligation was of main concern and preferences for both sexes. As far as the socio-economic factor is concerned, a significant difference is seen between students in different levels of study and the same applies to the prioritizing of the students’ criteria. Implications of this study are discussed in detail.