Survey The Economic, Social and Psychological Consequences of the Unwanted Celibacy of Girls in the Western Cities of Kermanshah Province

Abstract
In the present study, the economic, social, and psychological consequences of unwanted singleness were examined for unmarried girls aged 35 to 50 in the cities of Islamabade Gharb, Dalahu, Sarpolezahab, and Gilane Gharb. The research method is based on a quantitative paradigm and using a survey with a sample size of 385 unmarried girls aged 35 to 50. The most common problems of unmarried girls are economic problem (providing the necessities of daily life, economic burden, unpaid work for the family and others), negative psychological consequences (fear of the), social stigma (social rejection) and then social communication. (Communication with relatives) has been. The aforementioned consequences for girls have been different according to their personal, economic and social characteristics as well as their place of residence. Girls over 40 years old, Dalho County, rural areas, lower education, low economic and social base, unemployed or housewife had negative economic, social and psychological consequences. The increase in the negative consequences of the problem will gradually lead to the emergence of new social harms and new sexual norms, which requires knowing the consequences and making policies and planning to reduce the negative consequences of unwanted celibacy for girls.
Keywords: Kermanshah, Marriage Squeeze, Social Problems, Social Stigma, Unwanted Celibacy.
 
1. Introduction
With the economic and social developments of society, some changes have been observed in the family institution. Among these changes, we can mention the increase or delay in the age of marriage for both sexes, the decrease in the generality of marriage and the increase in definitive celibacy, the increase in divorce, the increase in the proportion of women’s economic participation, the increase in the proportion of women heads of households, and the decrease in fertility.
A study of the proportion of unmarried girls aged 30 to 40 in the 1395 census shows that the proportion of celibacy in the provinces of Ilam, Kermanshah, Lorestan, Kohgiluyeh, and Boyer Ahmad had the worst situation. And the counties of Gilan-e Gharb, Dalahu, Islamabad-e Gharb, and Sar-e Pul-e Zahab in Kermanshah province also had the worst situation in this regard. Given the severity of the marriage crisis in the aforementioned counties, celibacy has developed, it is unwanted celibacy, and this type of celibacy should be seen differently from the desired celibacy that existed in the past and present throughout the country. The hardship of marriage for unmarried girls can lead to singleness at the individual level, which has economic, social, and psychological consequences for girls, and at the social level, it leads to a delay in the age of marriage, an increase in the proportion of singleness and definitive singleness, and a decrease in fertility. Changes in the family and marriage in Iran coincide with the problem of employment, housing, and youth marriage, which can be a crisis if not paid attention to. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the individual, social, economic, and psychological consequences of singleness for girls in areas where the percentage of singleness is higher than the national average in order to lay the groundwork for economic and social policymaking. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to investigate the economic, social, and psychological consequences of singleness for unmarried girls aged 35 to 50 in the western counties of Kermanshah province (Islamabad-e Gharb, Dalahu, Gilan-e Gharb, Sarpolzahab).
 
2. Materials and Methods
The present study is a survey type and the statistical population includes all never married girls aged 35 to 50 years in the cities of Islamabad Gharb, Dalahu, Sarpolzahab and Gilan Gharb. According to the Cochran formula, the sample size of this study is estimated at 385 people. The sampling method in this study was a multi-stage cluster (for rural and urban areas of each city). The item measurement method was using a 6-option Likert scale (not at all code 0, very little code 1, little code 2, average code 3, high code 4 and very high code 5). Therefore, the range of changes was zero to five and in the report describing the economic, social and psychological consequences; the average range was zero to five. The validity of the research indicators was of the type of face validity, which was validated using the opinions of the professors of the sociology department of Razi University. Cronbach’s alpha and factor analysis were used for the reliability of the indicators.
 
3. Data
The average economic outcome of unmarried girls was 3.22. The most common economic problem of unmarried girls was meeting daily needs and wants, supporting the family financially, and doing unpaid work for the family and those around them. The average economic problem of girls in Dalahu County, in rural areas, was higher than that of other subclasses, being over 40 years old, having primary education, unemployed, and having a low economic and social status.
The average social connection of unmarried girls was 2.94. Unmarried girls had more contact with friends and participated less in family ceremonies. The average social connection of unmarried girls in Dalahu County, who were over 40 years old, illiterate, and having a low economic and social status was lower than that of other subclasses.
Due to the blame from those around them, single girls face high stigma and social pressure, and social acceptance of single life was lower. The stigma and social pressure of unmarried girls in Dalahu County, in rural areas, were higher than that of others, being under 40 years old, having primary education, unemployed, and having a low economic and social status.
The average negative psychological outcome for single girls was 3.02, which was above average, and the most important negative psychological outcome for single girls was fear of the future and lack of emotional support. The highest negative psychological outcome was for single girls in Dalahu County, in rural areas, with lower education, housewives, and over 40 years old.
The positive psychological outcome for single girls was below average (1.98). In this context, the average of the items of mental independence, strengthening personal morality, and self-improvement were higher than the items of a happy life away from depression, and feeling calm. The lowest average positive psychological outcome was for girls in Sarpolzahab County, rural areas, primary education, unemployed, over 40 years old, and girls with low economic and social status.
 
4. Discussion
The findings showed that the most common problems of single girls were, respectively, economic problems (providing daily necessities, financial burden, unpaid work for the family and those around them), negative psychological consequences (fear of the future and lack of emotional support), social stigma (social lack of acceptance), and then social connection (connection with relatives). This finding was consistent with the results of research by Shahanvoz and Azamzadeh (2018) on financial security, Qaneezabadi (2015) on lack of income and fear of the future, Goffman’s social stigma (2017), Farzizadeh’s social exclusion (2014), and Sadeghi and Shokfateh Gohari’s feelings of loneliness (2017).
 
5. Conclusion
The economic, social, and psychological consequences for single girls varied depending on their individual, economic, and social characteristics, as well as their place of residence. Among the cities studied, single girls in Dalahu had more negative consequences and in Gilan-e Gharb had fewer negative consequences. In general, girls over 40 years of age, living in rural areas, having lower education, low economic and social status, unemployed or housewife status, living with a brother or father, or relatives had more problems in terms of economic, social, and psychological consequences. In other words, girls who had more economic, social, or cultural capital had fewer problems in their daily lives as singles, suffered less stigma and social pressure, and also gained more positive psychological consequences (mental independence and self-development).
The increase in the negative consequences of the problem will gradually lead to the emergence of new social harms and new sexual norms, which in a society with a traditional context and foundation will appear in the form of creating areas of duality, conflicting emotions, anxiety and uncertainty, redefining oneself and identity-giving roles, internal conflict, and clashing belief systems, which requires awareness of the consequences and policy-making and planning to reduce the negative consequences of unwanted celibacy for girls.