Consequences of Early Marriage Among Women in Ahvaz City
Subject Areas : Research on Iranian social issues
شمسی پورعباسی
1
,
جعفر کرد زنگنه
2
,
منصور شریفی
3
1 -
2 -
3 -
Keywords:
Abstract :
Early marriage is globally associated with various health and social consequences for adolescent girls. This study aims to explore the consequences of early marriage among women in Ahvaz city. The research adopted a qualitative approach, utilizing purposive sampling, with data saturation achieved after 22 interviews. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. The quality of the findings was assessed using Lincoln and Guba’s trustworthiness criteria. Data analysis followed Smith’s three-stage descriptive-interpretive model. Analysis of the coded interviews revealed that the consequences of early marriage encompass 63 concepts, organized into 13 subcategories and two main categories: (1) emergence of diverse harms and challenges in women’s marital life (lack of decision-making power and problem-solving skills, interference by others due to the young age of the couple, lack of awareness and understanding of life’s issues and challenges, unpreparedness for parenting, inadequate knowledge of interacting with spouse and others, psychological issues, physical problems, and unpleasant sexual experiences due to psychological distress), and (2) unfulfilled personal desires and interests (inability to provide suitable conditions for children, resulting in their victimization, inability to pursue education or employment, premature marital life and regret over missing age-specific experiences, lack of comfort and peace of mind, and neglect of personal appearance and body). Collaboration and support from the government and relevant organizations, such as the Ministry of Education, Welfare Organization, Ministry of Science, and Ministry of Interior, are essential to combat child marriage and establish a foundation for gender equality.
Keywords: Early Marriage, Consequences, Women, Ahvaz, Qualitative Method
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Early marriage is a social phenomenon observed in many societies, particularly in less-developed regions. It carries widespread consequences across health, social, and psychological domains for adolescent girls. In Ahvaz city, this issue represents a significant social challenge warranting in-depth investigation. This study seeks to identify the consequences of early marriage among women in Ahvaz and propose strategies to mitigate its prevalence.
Methods
The study employed a qualitative research design. Data were collected through purposive sampling, with 22 semi-structured interviews conducted until saturation was reached. Smith’s three-stage descriptive-interpretive analysis model was used to analyze the data, and the trustworthiness of the findings was evaluated based on Lincoln and Guba’s criteria.
Findings
The results indicate that the consequences of early marriage can be categorized into two main themes: (1) emergence of diverse harms and challenges in women’s marital life, and (2) unfulfilled personal desires and interests.
In the first category, marital harms stemming from early marriage include a lack of decision-making power and problem-solving abilities, interference by others due to the young age of the couple, insufficient awareness and understanding of marital and life challenges, unpreparedness for parenting, lack of knowledge about interacting with a spouse and others, psychological issues, physical problems, and unpleasant sexual experiences linked to psychological distress. These factors result in numerous challenges for women in their marital lives, undermining their autonomy in managing life issues.
In the second category, unfulfilled personal aspirations encompass an inability to create suitable conditions for children (leading to their victimization), inability to pursue education or secure employment, premature entry into marital life accompanied by regret over missing age-specific experiences, lack of comfort and peace of mind, and neglect of personal appearance and body. These findings suggest that early marriage negatively impacts women’s personal growth and social development.
Conclusion and Discussion
Beyond individual consequences, early marriage also entails broader social ramifications. Increased divorce rates, marital instability, domestic violence, financial and emotional dependence on the natal family, reduced literacy levels, and diminished social participation among women are additional problems arising from this phenomenon. Collectively, these factors lower women’s quality of life and impair their ability to fulfill effective roles within the family and society. This study highlights that raising awareness among girls and their families about the consequences of early marriage is a critical strategy for its reduction. Education plays a pivotal role in reducing early marriage by integrating relevant topics into curricula, providing information, and teaching life skills to lower its prevalence. Furthermore, governmental legal and executive support—such as enacting stricter minimum age laws for marriage, enhancing supportive policies for girls, and expanding educational and employment opportunities—can effectively address this issue. Collaboration among institutions like the Ministry of Education, Welfare Organization, Ministry of Science, and Ministry of Interior is vital to combat child marriage and create conducive conditions for gender equality. Empowering women through social, economic, and educational support not only mitigates early marriage but also improves their mental and social well-being, ultimately contributing to sustainable societal development.
References
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Efevbera, Y., Bhabha, J., Farmer, P. E., & Fink, G. (2017) Girl child marriage as a risk factor for early childhood development and stunting. Social Science & Medicine, 185, 91-101
UNICEF. (2022) Global database – Child marriage, Retrieved from https://data.unicef.org/topic/child-protection/child-marriage/.Wang, Y., & Qiao, J. (2020) Trends and social determinants of adolescent marriage and fertility in China. The Lancet Global Health, 8(7), e873-e874.
Yoosefi Lebni, J., Solhi, M., Ebadi Fard Azar, F., Khalajabadi Farahani, F., & Irandoost, S. F. (2023) Exploring the consequences of early marriage: a conventional content analysis. INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, 60, 00469580231159963.
