نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی
نویسندگان
پژوهشکده خانواده، دانشگاه شهید بهشتی، تهران، ایران
چکیده
کلیدواژهها
موضوعات
عنوان مقاله [English]
نویسندگان [English]
Background: In recent years, premarital cohabitation has emerged as a new pattern in intimate relationships in Iran. Cultural and social changes have led some young people to experience living together before formal marriage. However, the psychological and social consequences of this phenomenon, especially in the cultural context of Iran, have rarely been studied.
Objective: This study aimed to explore the lived experience of Iranian couples who had experienced premarital cohabitation with their partner and to understand the effects of this experience on relationship quality, role division, and commitment in marriage.
Method: This study used a qualitative approach with Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Six married individuals (four women and two men) were purposefully selected. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using the method of Smith et al. (2009), leading to the extraction of key themes. Credibility of the findings was ensured through participant checking and peer review.
Findings: Data analysis identified 9 main themes including: formation of unequal gender role patterns, emotional insecurity in cohabitation for women, experiencing cohabitation as norm-breaking, benefiting from relationship advantages without formal obligations, and transition from cohabitation to marriage with redefinition of roles and commitments.
Conclusion: Although cohabitation provides an opportunity for couples to know each other better, in the absence of a clear agreement and division of responsibilities, women bear a greater burden of psychological and social pressure while men enjoy more freedom to experience the relationship without responsibility. This leads to conflict, feelings of insecurity in women, and the reproduction of gender inequalities. By focusing on the lived experience of Iranian couples, this study provides an indigenous and innovative perspective on premarital cohabitation. A deep understanding of this experience can guide the design of educational interventions, communication skills training, premarital programs, and cultural policymaking to improve the quality of marital relationships and reduce psychological harm.
کلیدواژهها [English]
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