Underlying values of spouse selection: A Grounded Theory study

In order to identify the underlying values ​​of choosing a spouse, this study has studied the experience of individuals on the verge of marriage. The present research has been done with a qualitative approach and with the grounded theory method. Participants in this study included 21 couples on the verge of marriage in Karaj who was selected by the purposeful selection method based on the principle of saturation. The data collection method in this study was a semi-structured interview with open and standardized questions and the data were analyzed and classified according to the approach of Strauss and Corbin's underlying theory. The findings showed the values ​​of the participants in choosing a spouse in 5 central categories: "criteria, expectations, goals, responsibility, and meaning". The central category of "criteria" has 6 dimensions: "moral virtues, personality and behavioral characteristics, emotional relationships, fit and similarity, physical attractiveness and the way of acquaintance", the central category of "expectations" has 3 dimensions of "being together, having a good family and issues" "Sex", the central category of "goals" has 5 dimensions: "Marriage needs, marriage concerns, peace and security, completion and change and formation of the family", the central category of "responsibility" with 1 dimension of "cooperation for material and spiritual independence" and the category " Meaning is dimensionless. The result of this research was the discovery of a core category called "love of the content of life" which explains the 5 central categories of values ​​in order to choose the right and conscious choice of a spouse.