Factors Affecting Attitudes towards Cohabitation among Iranian Youth
Introduction In previous decades, marriage has been more prevalent, while cohabitation has been largely limited to specific social groups. However, attitudes toward cohabitation are shifting in many countries, resulting in its increased acceptance and prevalence. In Iran, although some young people...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Persian |
| Published: |
University of Isfahan
2025-09-01
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| Series: | جامعه شناسی کاربردی |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://jas.ui.ac.ir/article_29420_af247b254beddb0d0ef73daee8741aa2.pdf |
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| Summary: | Introduction
In previous decades, marriage has been more prevalent, while cohabitation has been largely limited to specific social groups. However, attitudes toward cohabitation are shifting in many countries, resulting in its increased acceptance and prevalence. In Iran, although some young people still hold disapproving views about cohabitation, its occurrence is rising, particularly in major cities like Tehran. The theory of the second demographic transition highlights that growing individualism, secularism, and gender egalitarianism have contributed to the emergence of new family structures, including cohabitation. This article aimed to explore young individuals' perspectives on cohabitation and analyze the factors influencing these attitudes.
Materials & Methods
This study conducted a secondary analysis of data from the 2020 National Survey of Values and Attitudes of Youth. The data collection tool for this survey was a questionnaire administered through face-to-face interviews. The sample comprised 11,573 individuals aged 18 to 35 years, residing in both urban and rural areas across 31 provinces of the country. A multi-stage sampling method was employed for sample selection. The demographic characteristics of the sample were as follows: the average age of respondents was approximately 27 years. Most participants (about 53%) were unemployed. In terms of religion, the majority of the sample population (89%) identified as Shia Muslims and 74% of respondents resided in urban areas.
The dependent variable was the attitude toward cohabitation measured using a question on a 5-point Likert scale. Independent variables included demographic factors (gender, age, marital status, education level, employment status, ethnicity, religion, and place of residence), family-related factors (economic status of the household, family cohesion, and supervision), attitudes toward marriage and interactions with the opposite sex, and a cultural consumption index. For the multivariable analysis, the Ordinal Logistic Regression test was utilized.
Discussion of Results & Conclusion
The findings indicated that approximately 31% of participants held modern views on marriage and its stability, while 55% adopted moderate views and 14% maintained traditional perspectives. About 63% of respondents had a favorable outlook on friendships between girls and boys, whereas around 28% opposed such relationships. Moreover, the data revealed that the majority of respondents did not support cohabitation, with only about 15% expressing a positive attitude toward it. Although the acceptance of cohabitation remained low in Iranian society, the increasing trend compared to the 2015 survey on values and attitudes suggested that this phenomenon could become significant in the future. Consequently, one of the challenges facing marriage and family formation in the coming decades will be the rising trend of cohabitation.
The analysis also showed that individuals with a favorable view of cohabitation were typically male, unmarried, aged 18 to 23 years, unemployed, of Persian ethnicity, and residing in urban areas. Furthermore, the results of the ordinal logistic regression analysis indicated that various demographic factors—such as gender, age, marital status, ethnicity, religion, and place of residence—along with family socioeconomic status, attitudes toward marriage, interactions with the opposite sex, and cultural consumption positively influenced attitudes toward cohabitation. Conversely, the multivariable analysis revealed a significant negative relationship between family cohesion and monitoring and attitudes toward cohabitation. In other words, as family cohesion and oversight increased, favorable attitudes toward cohabitation decreased.
The model demonstrated a relatively good fit, collectively explaining about one-third of the variance in the dependent variable. These findings align with the assumptions of theories related to diffusion, social control, the second demographic transition, and cultural change, which provide suitable explanations for attitudes toward cohabitation.
In conclusion, this study underscored that cohabitation, despite encountering some resistance, presented a significant challenge to the social and cultural norms of Iran. The rise in cohabitation was anticipated to become a key obstacle to traditional marriage and family structures in the years to come. Addressing this issue through awareness-raising initiatives and preventive measures is essential. Given the potential negative impacts of cohabitation on Iranian society, culture, and family well-being, further research in this area is advisable, along with the development of policies to support the marriage of young individuals. |
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| ISSN: | 2008-5745 2322-343X |