Sociological Analysis of Youth Value Structures in the Lived Experience of Cohabitation

Abstract

The value structure of youth concerning marriage has undergone significant changes, one of which is exemplified by the increasing prevalence of cohabitation. This article aims to provide a sociological analysis of the value structure of young people within the lived experience of cohabitation in Tehran. The research methodology employed is a mixed-methods approach, utilizing both grounded theory and survey techniques. Data collection tools included interviews and questionnaires, respectively. The study's target population comprised all young individuals with cohabitation experience in Tehran, with 18 participants selected through purposive sampling for the qualitative section and 128 participants for the survey. Qualitative data were analyzed through a three-stage coding process—open coding, axial coding, and selective coding—resulting in the extraction of 144 concepts from the initial data. This process led to the identification of 41 categories and 18 themes. In the final stage of selective coding, the central phenomenon identified was "selective hedonism." Subsequently, the categories were transformed into questionnaire items. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and SPSS22 software. The data analysis reveals that the causal conditions include individual worldview, economic challenges, rejection of traditional culture, desire for independence, sexual and emotional hedonism, and dissatisfaction with formal marriage. The intervening conditions consist of globalization, cultural and social changes, the country's flawed economic structure, and liberation from conventional marriage and divorce norms. The strategies identified are hiding the relationship, resisting tradition, frugality, and implementing macro-structural measures. The outcomes include rational choice, individual and social isolation, reduced levels of commitment and responsibility, and an increase in open relationships within society.