Social and Economic Variables and Their Impact on Marriage Decision-Making: An Applied Study on a Sample of Men and Women in Saudi Society

Abstract

The study aimed to identify the most prominent social, economic, educational/professional factors, and personal motivations influencing the delay in making the decision to marry among young men and women in Saudi society. To achieve the study's objectives, the descriptive methodology was adopted through a survey study using a non-probability sample. The electronic questionnaire tool was applied to a purposive sample of (473) young men and women from various regions of the Kingdom. The instrument included four main dimensions measuring: social variables, economic variables, educational and professional variables, and personal motivations. The results showed that the economic dimension ranked first in terms of influence, with an overall mean of (3.73), followed by the social dimension (3.54), then the educational and professional dimension (3.44), and finally the personal dimension (3.40). The findings indicated that the most influential factors were high marriage costs, difficulty in securing housing, cultural openness, and the rise in personal and professional aspirations among youth. Based on the findings, the study recommended the need to adopt awareness and social programs that promote easing marriage requirements, raise youth awareness about the importance of balancing personal ambitions with family stability, support governmental and charitable initiatives that help reduce economic burdens, and develop training programs to prepare young people for marriage socially, psychologically, and economically.