Choosing a marriage partner: Insights from young Indians on beliefs, perceptions, and preferences, and 3 key questions for screening

Abstract

Background: Although several studies have been conducted on marriage and marriage partner selection, there is still much to understand about the multifaceted aspects of this phenomenon in India. Objective: This study aimed to explore beliefs, perceptions, and preferences related to marriage partner selection and identify three key questions to screen potential marriage partners. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted online through a self-administered questionnaire created on Google Forms and distributed through popular social media channels like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook. The study targeted young adults aged 18 years and above and collected data from Jul 22, 2022 to Feb 7, 2023. The semi-structured questionnaire captured demographic information, beliefs, perceptions, and preferences regarding marriage partner selection. Participants were also asked three key questions they would prefer to ask their potential marriage partner. The questionnaire was filled out anonymously after obtaining informed consent from all participants. The data collected were exported to Microsoft Excel, and quantitative data analysis was done using R software, while qualitative data were opencoded by the authors and categorized into meaningful groups. After several discussion sessions, the three key questions were selected from personal, marriage and family, and career and life domains, and disagreements were resolved by consensus. The results were reviewed and validated by four participants to ensure validity. Results: The majority of participants considered marriage to be beneficial for emotional stability, companionship, and social support but viewed increased responsibilities as a disadvantage. Love marriage was preferred over arranged marriage, with age and financial stability seen as important factors for marriage. In screening a potential marriage partner, participants identified communication skills as the first quality they would observe and tested loyalty. They also preferred partners who possess loyalty and understanding as top qualities. The majority believed that both marriage partners should work and earn money. Three vital questions to ask a potential marriage partner identified were related to personal and career goals for the next 5 or 10 years, description of themselves, and their family’s expectations and preferences for their future partner. Conclusion: The findings highlight the importance of companionship, emotional stability, and social support in marriages, as well as the potential stressors and expectations associated with marriage. These findings can inform policies and educational interventions to promote healthy relationships and marriages among young adults. To enhance the external validity of the findings, a larger sample size and a more diverse population can be included in future studies.