Journal of Iranian Cultural Research

Journal of Iranian Cultural Research

Examining factors influencing marriage delay among youth in Kashan: The mediating role of the preference for singlehood

Document Type : Scientific Research Manuscript

Authors
1 Assistant Professor Department of Demography, Faculty of Social Sciences, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran
2 MA in Demography, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran
10.22035/jicr.2026.3596.3814
Abstract
The increase in the average age of marriage has become one of the most significant demographic and social issues in recent years. This study aims to analyze the sociological and demographic factors influencing the delay in the age of marriage among youth in Kashan. This study employed a cross-sectional survey design conducted in the autumn of 2024. The statistical population of the study comprised never-married females aged 24–44 and males aged 28–49 residing in Kashan. The sample size was estimated to be 373 participants using Cochran’s formula. Multivariate analysis revealed that the preference for singlehood, premarital relationships, social network interactions, marriage costs, trust in the opposite sex, individualism, employment status, age, and years of education are, in that order, the strongest predictors of marriage delay, collectively explaining approximately 43% of the variance in the dependent variable (marriage delay). Finally, path analysis of direct and indirect effects indicated that premarital relationships, individualism, social network interactions, preference for singlehood, marriage costs, trust in the opposite sex, employment status, age, and years of education, in that order, are the strongest predictors of marriage delay. Based on the findings, it is recommended to integrate analytical and scientific education regarding the consequences of relationships outside the framework of marriage into high school curricula, alongside efforts to remove barriers and encourage marriage as a healthy relational model. This approach can help mitigate this issue and positively impact fertility through stable family formation. Additionally, a focus on media literacy education and the economic empowerment of youth is recommended.
Keywords
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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 18 July 2026

  • Receive Date 01 January 2026
  • Revise Date 06 June 2026
  • Accept Date 20 June 2026