The impact of beliefs of developmental idealism on youths’ spouse selection styles: case study of youths aged 18-35 years in Yasuj

In recent decades, many values and social norms in Iran have undergone changes and transformations in parallel with widespread changes around the world. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of developmental idealism beliefs on styles the spouse selection among youths. The research method is based on a survey and the data collection tool is a questionnaire. As a matter of fact, the data was collected through a survey of 608 young people in Yasuj. Findings indicate that there is a significant relationship between the variables of religiosity, developmental idealism, gender attitudes, and attitudes toward the spouse selection. The variables of materialism, cyberspace and Internet use as well as individualism did not have significant relationship with spouse selection styles. According to the final research model, the five variables that were most related to the spouse selection were in accordance with their importance i.e., religiosity, developmental idealism, age and education of the parents. Based on the final model of path analysis, the variables of age, religiosity of parents' education and gender attitudes have had a direct effect on spouse selection styles. The variables of individualism being male, cyberspace use, and attitudes toward marriage have indirectly influenced selection styles through developmental idealism.