This study examines the well-being differences between adolescents aged 15 -19 in Abu Dhabi who intend to marry and those who do not, using data from the 5th Quality of Life survey. The analysis focuses on various well-being indicators, including subjective physical and mental health, social relationships, and life satisfaction. Descriptive statistics and ANOVA are employed to identify significant differences between the two groups. The results reveal that adolescents intending to marry experience higher levels of anxiety but report greater social engagement, life satisfaction, healthy lifestyle behaviours (eating healthy food, and sport and activities), and religious practices (often practising religion) compared to their peers who do not plan to marry. However, no significant differences were observed in indicators such as sadness, loneliness, and trust in others, suggesting that marital intentions influence some aspects of adolescent well-being less. These findings highlight the complex interplay of social, psychological, and behavioural factors shaping adolescent well-being, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions.
References
[1]
Abdurahman, D., Assefa, N., & Berhane, Y. (2023). Adolescent Girls’ Early Marriage Intention and Its Determinants in Eastern Ethiopia: A Social Norms Perspective. SageOpen,13, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440231182352
[2]
Alcaraz, M., Hayford, S. R., & Glick, J. E. (2022). Desired Fertility and Educational Aspirations: Adolescent Goals in Rapidly Changing Social Contexts. JournalofMarriageandFamily,84, 7-31. https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12815
[3]
Arnold, M. E. (2017). Supporting Adolescent Exploration and Commitment: Identity Formation, Thriving, and Positive Youth Development. JournalofYouthDevelopment,12, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.5195/jyd.2017.522
[4]
Backes, E. P., & Bonnie, R. J. (2019). The Promise of Adolescence: Realizing Opportunity for All Youth. National Academies Press.
[5]
Beal, S. J., Crockett, L. J., & Peugh, J. (2016). Adolescents’ Changing Future Expectations Predict the Timing of Adult Role Transitions. DevelopmentalPsychology,52, 1606-1618. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000189
[6]
Bejanyan, K., Marshall, T. C., & Ferenczi, N. (2015). Associations of Collectivism with Relationship Commitment, Passion, and Mate Preferences: Opposing Roles of Parental Influence and Family Allocentrism. PLOSONE,10, e0117374. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0117374
[7]
Berrington, A. (2016). Education, Career, and the Deferral of Marriage Intentions: Evidence from the UK. Journal of Family Issues, 37, 29-54.
[8]
Borau, S., Couprie, H., & Hopfensitz, A. (2022). The Prosociality of Married People: Evidence from a Large Multinational Sample. JournalofEconomicPsychology,92, Article ID: 102545. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2022.102545
[9]
Chapman, B., & Guven, C. (2016). Revisiting the Relationship between Marriage and Wellbeing: Does Marriage Quality Matter? JournalofHappinessStudies,17, 533-551. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-014-9607-3
[10]
Diener, E., Gohm, C. L., Suh, E., & Oishi, S. (2000a). Happily Ever After? The Relationship between Marital Status and Subjective Well-Being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78, 293-303.
[11]
Diener, E., Gohm, C. L., Suh, E., & Oishi, S. (2000b). Similarity of the Relations between Marital Status and Subjective Well-Being across Cultures. JournalofCross-CulturalPsychology,31, 419-436. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022022100031004001
[12]
Furstenberg, F. F. (2017). Age, Life Stage, and Marriage Intentions: A Cross-Sectional Analysis. Journal of Marriage and Family, 79, 671-688.
[13]
Handayani, S., Kora, F. T., Monika, R., & Rahayu, A. D. (2022). Literature Review: The Infuencing Factors of Early Marriage in Adolescents. Jurnal Kesehatan Samodra Ilmu, 13, 70-79. https://doi.org/10.55426/jksi.v13i02.229
[14]
Huntington, C., Stanley, S. M., Doss, B. D., & Rhoades, G. K. (2022). Happy, Healthy, and Wedded? How the Transition to Marriage Affects Mental and Physical Health. JournalofFamilyPsychology,36, 608-617. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000913
[15]
Hynek, K. A., Abebe, D. S., Liefbroer, A. C., Hauge, L. J., & Straiton, M. L. (2022). The Association between Early Marriage and Mental Disorder among Young Migrant and Non-Migrant Women: A Norwegian Register-Based Study. BMCWomen’sHealth,22, Article No. 258. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-022-01836-5
[16]
Hyseni Duraku, Z., Jemini-Gashi, L., & Toçi, E. (2020). Perceptions of Early Marriage, Educational Aspirations, and Career Goals among Kosovar Adolescents. Marriage&FamilyReview,56, 513-534. https://doi.org/10.1080/01494929.2020.1728006
[17]
Jensen, R., & Thornton, R. (2003). Early Female Marriage in the Developing World. Gender&Development,11, 9-19. https://doi.org/10.1080/741954311
[18]
Keldal, G., & Şeker, G. (2022). Marriage or Career? Young Adults’ Priorities in Their Life Plans. TheAmericanJournalofFamilyTherapy,50, 459-474. https://doi.org/10.1080/01926187.2021.1915213
[19]
Knox, D., Zusman, M., & Daniels, V. (2008). Cultural Perspectives on Marital Intentions and Well-Being. MarriageandFamilyReview,45, 289-307.
[20]
Ludvigh Cintulova, L., & Radkova, L. (2021). Young Adults’ Marital Attitudes andIntentions to Marry. ISBCRTI.
[21]
Lundberg, S. (2013). Postponing Marriage: Trends and Factors among Youth. JournalofMarriageandFamily,75, 475-495.
[22]
Matud, M. P., López-Curbelo, M., & Fortes, D. (2019). Gender and Psychological Well-Being. InternationalJournalofEnvironmentalResearchandPublicHealth,16, Article 3531. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16193531
[23]
Nhampoca, J. M., & Maritz, J. E. (2024). Early Marriage, Education and Mental Health: Experiences of Adolescent Girls in Mozambique. FrontiersinGlobalWomen’sHealth,5, Article 1278934. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgwh.2024.1278934
[24]
Novianti, D., Fatonah, S., Abadi, M. T. D., Haq, M. F., & Sagita, V. A. (2023). Social Media and Early Marriage during the Covid-19 Pandemic in Indonesia. JournalofSocialandPoliticalSciences,6, 35-46. https://doi.org/10.31014/aior.1991.06.04.443
[25]
Parsons, J., Edmeades, J., Kes, A., Petroni, S., Sexton, M., & Wodon, Q. (2015). Economic Impacts of Child Marriage: A Review of the Literature. TheReviewofFaith&InternationalAffairs,13, 12-22. https://doi.org/10.1080/15570274.2015.1075757
[26]
Plotnick, R. D. (2007). Adolescent Expectations and Desires about Marriage and Parenthood. Journal of Adolescence, 30, 943-963. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2007.01.003
[27]
Sagalova, V., Garcia, J., Kapeu, A. S., Ntambi, J., Zagre, N. M., & Vollmer, S. (2021). Socio-economic Predictors of Adolescent Marriage and Maternity in West and Central Africa between 1986 and 2017. JournalofGlobalHealth,11, Article ID: 13002. https://doi.org/10.7189/jogh.11.13002
[28]
Scales, P. C., Benson, P. L., Oesterle, S., Hill, K. G., Hawkins, J. D., & Pashak, T. J. (2015). The Dimensions of Successful Young Adult Development: A Conceptual and Measurement Framework. AppliedDevelopmentalScience,20, 150-174. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888691.2015.1082429
[29]
Stone, C., & Harris, P. (2014). Life Stage and Marital Intentions: How Age Influences the Decision to Marry. Social Science Research, 45, 619-631.
[30]
Tan, C., Cheng, S., Nakayama, T., & George, S. (2021). Antecedents of the Attitudes toward Singlehood among Young Adults in Malaysia, Japan, and India. FrontiersinPsychology,12, Article 756090. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.756090
[31]
Van Ouytsel, J., Walrave, M., Ponnet, K., Willems, A., & Van Dam, M. (2019). Adolescents’ Perceptions of Digital Media’s Potential to Elicit Jealousy, Conflict and Monitoring Behaviors within Romantic Relationships. Cyberpsychology:JournalofPsychosocialResearchonCyberspace,13, Article 3. https://doi.org/10.5817/cp2019-3-3
