RT - Journal Article T1 - Married Students' Attitude to Marriage: A Qualitative Study JF - ijpn YR - 2016 JO - ijpn VO - 4 IS - 2 UR - http://ijpn.ir/article-1-782-en.html SP - 19 EP - 28 K1 - content analysis K1 - attitude to marriage K1 - married students K1 - qualitative study AB - Introduction: attitude is a cognitive phenomenon that has a considerable influence on willingness to marriage, age and the stability of marriage. Due to the gap in the field of qualitative researches on marriage in the country, this study aims to explain the attitudes of married students toward marriage. Methods: This study was a qualitative study using content analysis in which data were collected using purposive sampling, in-depth semi-structured individual interviews with 18 married students of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz , Iran. Data was saturated after conducting 18 interviews. Data analysis was carried out through conventional content analysis; after the transcription of recorded interviews on paper and immersion in the data, the initial codes were extracted. To determine the main categories, initial codes were reviewed and classified in several steps. Results: in total, 589 concepts in initial coding, 68 categories in the open coding, and 12 classes in the axial coding were extracted.The main 12 classes and themes consist of socio-cultural factors,early expriences and observing incomplete pattern,awreness of and understanding each other,material and spiritual support,realizing the sanctity of marriage, pressures for marriage,interference of parents and intergenerational transmission,economic factors,proper coping strategies to attitude,perceived personal development and willingness to marriage. The 12 main classes and themes were recognized as the effective factors in married students' attitude toward marriage. Conclusion: In this study, changing attitudes towards marriage is a fundamental factor in encouraging young people to marry, which can be implemented by following a systematic approach (general scheme). Promoting successful models of marriage in society, moral and material support by parents, teaching coping strategies commensurate with the challenges of marriage, increasing marriage preparation skills, and government support in forming counseling units run by committed and professional and family psychologists and counselors,are key items in this scheme. LA eng UL http://ijpn.ir/article-1-782-en.html M3 10.21859/ijpn-04023 ER -