| چکیده انگلیسی مقاله |
Introduction
The increasing instability of family structures is a significant societal concern that warrants thorough investigation. One aspect worth exploring is how individuals navigated their singlehood in the past and how these experiences influence marriage and cohabitation. This research aimed to examine the relationships among various factors, including friendship experiences, emotional attachment, desire for diversity, mistrust, and attitude toward divorce among married women.
Materials & Methods
This research utilized a cross-sectional survey design with a descriptive-correlational approach. The statistical population consisted of married women aged 20 to 39 years residing in the 3rd, 13th, and 16th districts of Tehran. The sample size was determined to be 383 participants using Cochran's formula. A combination of multi-stage and simple random sampling methods was employed. In this study, the independent variables included friendship experience, emotional attachment, distrust, desire for diversity, age, employment status, and education level. The dependent variable was attitude toward divorce. The Pearson correlation coefficient was applied to examine the bivariate relationships between the dependent variable (a pseudo-interval measure of attitude toward divorce) and the independent variables (which were on interval and pseudo-interval scales and included emotional attachment, distrust, desire for diversity, age, and education). To assess the bivariate relationships between the dependent variable and the nominal variables of employment status and friendship experience (which were on a two-choice scale), a T-test for independent samples was conducted. Additionally, multivariate linear regression analysis was used to explore the relationships between the dependent variable and independent variables.
Discussion of Results & Conclusion
The results indicated that friendship experience, emotional attachment, desire for diversity, distrust, and employment status significantly influenced positive attitude toward divorce. Notably, a significant negative relationship was found between emotional attachment and attitude toward divorce, suggesting that as emotional attachment decreased, attitude toward divorce among married women became more positive. Additionally, the research revealed that higher levels of distrust towards spouses correlated with more favorable attitude toward divorce. Another significant finding was the relationship between an increased desire for diversity and positive attitude toward divorce among women. Overall, issues related to sexuality and intimacy played a crucial role in dissatisfaction between couples and contributed to instability in their relationships, with sexual diversity being a key factor. Moreover, the study found a significant difference in average attitude toward divorce between individuals who had friendship experiences with the opposite sex and those who did not. Specifically, those with such friendships exhibited higher average scores for attitude toward divorce. To further explore this finding, the research examined the impact of "friendship experience" on emotional attachment, distrust, and desire for diversity. The analysis revealed that friendship experience significantly affected emotional attachment, distrust, and desire for diversity. Consequently, it could be concluded that individuals with friendship experiences tended to have lower emotional attachment, greater distrust, and a higher desire for diversity. Therefore, having friendship experience significantly influenced positive attitude toward divorce, both directly and indirectly, through its effects on the other three variables. Regarding contextual factors, no statistically significant relationship was observed between age or education and attitude toward divorce. However, a notable difference was found between the average attitude of employed and unemployed individuals; specifically, employed women exhibited a more positive attitude toward divorce compared to their unemployed counterparts. While women's employment could contribute to family stability and economic growth, it could also pose risks to the family foundation if not approached with care. It is crucial to provide essential training for young couples during marriage preparation to help men learn effective ways to attract and support their wives. Given the increasing employment and financial independence of many women today, meeting their economic needs alone is no longer sufficient to ensure their commitment to family life. Additionally, women should appreciate the emotional aspects of relationships. Human needs extend beyond mere economic support; the need for intimacy and affection becomes increasingly vital over time. This study found that women with a friendship experience, lower emotional attachment, higher distrust, and a desire for diversity combined with employment status tended to have the most positive attitude toward divorce. This finding enhances our understanding of the long-term consequences of friendships and relationships prior to marriage. It offers valuable insights for cultural and educational institutions aimed at raising awareness among adolescents and young people, particularly in modifying their interaction patterns with the opposite sex. Many young girls in open relationships tend to focus on short-term benefits (such as fulfilling immediate needs) and may be unaware of the potential long-term consequences due to their lack of experience. An effective approach can involve sharing the lived experiences of individuals, who have faced negative long-term outcomes from open relationships. Additionally, this study highlighted the deeper dimensions of incompatibility and divorce, underscoring the need for accessible counseling services for couples whose marriages may be at risk due to previous unfavorable experiences. To mitigate the risk of divorce, couples considering marriage should first develop a greater awareness of how each other's past experiences may impact their future together, enabling them to make informed decisions about selecting a life partner. If they are committed to marriage, proactive measures should be implemented to address and reduce these negative effects, thereby decreasing the likelihood of divorce in the future.
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