Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 department of sociology shahr-e-Qods branch. islamic azad university . tehran. iran
2 : Department of Sociology, Dehaghan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
Abstract
This study aimed to identify and analyze the factors influencing the perception of marriage delay among youth aged 18 to 35 years in Kerman province, focusing on the economic, cultural, social, familial, psychological, structural, and institutional dimensions, as well as examining the interaction of these factors in youth decision-making. The research was applied in nature and employed a mixed-methods approach (qualitative-quantitative). In the qualitative section, the meta-synthesis method was applied using Sandelowski and Barroso's six-step framework. The research population included all relevant domestic and international studies, from which 32 reliable sources were selected. Data were analyzed through open, axial, and selective coding, with validity ensured using Lincoln and Guba’s criteria and reliability achieved through inter-coder agreement (87%). In the quantitative section, the statistical population consisted of youth aged 18 to 35 in Kerman province (1,211,312 individuals), with a sample size of 400 determined. The findings revealed that all factors significantly influenced the perception of marriage delay (p < 0.05), with economic and cultural factors having the greatest impact. The overall model explained 52.8% of the variance in marriage delay. The results align with the theories of Modernization (Durkheim and Parsons), Social Capital (Bourdieu), and Human Capital (Becker).
Keywords
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