DefinePK

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the relationship between their demographic characteristics, perceived body image, casteism and prospects of marriage among university students. The respondents were asked questions about gender, educational status, monthly family income, employment status, living area, family type, casteism and perceived body image. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted with the students’ studying at Pakistan's higher education institutes and universities. Findings indicate that most of the respondents were doing graduation (54.4 per cent) or post-graduation (42.7 per cent). Three-fourths of the respondents were unemployed. Majority of the respondents were female (59.6 per cent) and belonged to urban areas of the country. In addition, the study population had almost equal representation of each economic class. Independent sample t-test and one-way ANOVA were performed to see the effect of socio-demographic variables on marriage prospects of the respondents. Findings indicate that males had more prospects of marriage as compared to females. Correlational analysis indicated casteism had a statistically significant and positive relationship with marriage prospects (r=.353, p<.01) and body image (r=.125, p<.05). Moreover, body image had a statistically significant and positive relationship with marriage prospects (r=.197, p<.01).  Furthermore, linear regression showed that casteism is a stronger predictor of prospects of marriage than body image. Based on the findings of this study, we can conclude that three factors i.e. caste, body image and economic status are important in predicting the marriage prospects among young adults. However caste came out as strong predictor as compared to body image. In a traditional Pakistani society, caste is not just a historical phenomenon but it contains deep cultural and socio-economic and socio-psychological ramifications.