Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Qom Institute of Higher Education in Ethics and Education
2 Psychology Department, Imam Khomeini Educational and Research Institute, Qom
Abstract
In recent decades, premarital relationships have emerged as a significant social challenge in Iranian society. Islam, as a comprehensive religion, recognizes the natural human needs while prescribing specific frameworks for interactions between the sexes, deeming any relationship beyond these boundaries as illegitimate. This study aims to identify and categorize the factors contributing to the formation of premarital friendships in Iran through a qualitative meta-synthesis approach. To this end, 18 relevant scholarly articles were reviewed and analyzed. The findings indicate that the factors influencing premarital relationships can be classified into three main categories: (1) Individual factors (including attitudinal, cognitive, and psychological dimensions); (2) Familial factors (including internal family dynamics, parental supervision, and parenting styles); and (3) Social factors (including cultural, environmental, media-related, and peer influences). The results suggest that this phenomenon is multifactorial and may lead to a range of negative consequences, such as academic decline, mental and emotional disorders, social harms, and difficulties in future marital life. Understanding these factors can assist policymakers and social planners in developing appropriate strategies to address this issue.
Keywords
- Premarital Relationships
- Individual Factors
- Familial Factors
- Social Factors
- Qualitative Meta-Synthesis
Main Subjects
)