Biannual Journal of Applied Counseling

Biannual Journal of Applied Counseling

Identifying the Factors Underlying Reluctance to Marry among Female Postgraduate Students

Document Type : Original Research

Author
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran
Abstract
Marriage age is an important social and economic variable because it influences birth rates, population growth, labor supply, and family health. Delayed marriage among single individuals has become a global social concern. This study aimed to identify the factors underlying reluctance to marry among female postgraduate students and to develop and validate a scale based on the factors identified from their perspectives. The study employed a descriptive-correlational design. The population consisted of single female postgraduate students at universities in East Azarbaijan Province who were enrolled during the 2024–2025 academic year. Four samples were selected using stratified random sampling: the first sample (20 students) was used to identify the preliminary factors and develop the scale; the second sample (30 students) was used for preliminary administration and assessment of reliability and validity; the third sample (250 students) was used for exploratory factor analysis (EFA); and the fourth sample (200 students) was used for confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, the Marital Attitude Scale, the Marital Intent Scale, and the researcher-developed Reluctance to Marry Scale. Data were analyzed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. The findings indicated that the final 40-item scale comprised six factors, which explained 59% of the total variance: Effort for Individual Growth and Advancement; Appeal of Singleness over Marriage; Lack of Readiness and Necessary Skills for Marriage; Economic Issues; Legal, Social, and Cultural Issues; and Family Issues. Identifying the factors underlying reluctance to marry, particularly from the perspective of female postgraduate students, may provide a useful framework for specialists and policymakers to better understand barriers to marriage and family formation.
Keywords
Subjects

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Volume 16, Issue 1
August 2026
Pages 41-59

  • Receive Date 17 January 2026
  • Revise Date 12 September 2026
  • Accept Date 13 September 2026