Making Sense of Marriage-Related Fear: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Emerging Adult Women in Pakistan

Abstract

The present study explored the lived experiences of fear of marriage among emerging adult women in Pakistan. Although marriage is considered an important social institution in Pakistani society, many young women experience fear and anxiety related to marriage. However, this phenomenon has received limited attention in Pakistani psychological research. A qualitative research design based on Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to understand how women experience and make sense of this fear. Seven unmarried women between the ages of 18 and 29 participated in semi-structured interviews. The data were analyzed using IPA to identify common patterns and meanings across participants' experiences. Five major themes emerged from the analysis: fear shaped by negative relationship experiences and observed unhappy marriages, concerns about losing identity and independence, pressure from social and cultural expectations, physical and emotional experiences of fear, and feelings of silence and lack of support. The findings suggest that fear of marriage is influenced by a combination of psychological, social, and cultural factors. The study supports the Biopsychosocial Model and Emerging Adulthood Theory by showing how personal development, family experiences, and societal expectations interact to shape women's fears about marriage. The study provides a culturally relevant understanding of fear of marriage and highlights the need for counselling services and mental health support for young women in Pakistan.