EXAMINING GRADUATE STUDENTS’ OPINIONS REGARDING MARRIAGE AND PREMARITAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine graduate students’ opinions regarding marriage and premarital education programs. The participants of the study are 22 graduate students (12 female and 10 male) attending different programs at a public university in İzmir, Turkey. The data for the study were collected through a standardized interview form prepared by the researcher herself, which consists of open-ended questions. The data obtained in this qualitative study were analysed by using content analysis technique. The findings of the study were classified under five main themes: definition of marriage; perceptions about premarital education programs; knowledge and skills that need to be acquired prior to marriage; skills that men and women should have to maintain a healthy marriage; and positive and negative traits that the participants believe that they already have in order to maintain a marriage. Later, these findings were discussed under the light of studies and their findings available in the related literature.