GROWING ISSUE OF LATE MARRIAGES IN PAKISTAN: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

Abstract

Abstract Since the mid-1980s, the average age of first marriage has risen to roughly 25 years in various East and Southeast Asian countries. Pakistan is one of the South Asian countries where late marriages are becoming more common and therefore exploring the reasons for delayed marriages is worth investigating. Hence, the current study typically focuses on exploring factors undertaken while making decisions for marriage, explaining delayed marriages in Pakistan. Purposive sampling was used to select 14 participants and semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using IPA. The results highlighted key themes which include; physical/personal, financial, familial sociocultural factors, along with key demographic factors (education of women, caste system, and family size). Appearance and effective distinctiveness were also considered important among the personal/physical aspects based themes of the study, while in financial factors, the key codes were inability to find a good match due to financial requirements, dowry, status quo, and comparisons with relatives. The findings of this study will contribute to a better understanding of delayed marriageability in societies with collectivist cultures, like Pakistan. The results of this research will help family counsellors to assist parents on how to make successful decisions timely to end the social problem of late marriages.