A Qualitative Study of the Challenges of the Attendance of Girls Early Married in Schools and Its Management

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Assistant Professor, Family Studies Department, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran.

Abstract

Early marriage among young girls is one of the significant educational challenges in East province, with wide-ranging implications for the education system and students’ individual and social development. This study aimed to investigate the social, managerial, and educational challenges associated with the attenfance of married female pupils in school utilizing a qualitative approach and thematic analysis. Sampling was conducted purposefully among school personnel of girls’ schools in Tabriz with a high rate of early marriage, and the process ended after reaching theoretical saturation after the eleventh interview. Semi-structured interviews was implemented in order to gather the data which were analyzed employing the six-step method by Braun & Clarke (2006). The categorization of 68 initial semantic codes led to the identification of three main themes and twelve sub-themes: (1) Regulations and support resources, including lack of regulatory clarity, dual approaches, and absence of institutional and financial support; (2) School functional and structural Deficiencies, such as unpreparedness of educational staff, lack of supportive facilities, and unfavorable school environment; and (3) Social and normative factors, particularly the normalization of early marriage. The findings revealed that an inadequate response to the educational challenges of these pupils can undermine their academic progress and development and negatively affect the educational quality and psychological climate for other pupils, facilitating the continuation of this phenomenon. Therefore, the study underlines revising educational strategies, fostering institutional support, and enhancing the managerial and cultural capacities of schools to support these pupils and prevent early marriage in urban and rural schools of Tabriz.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Abbasi, B. (2023). Examining the importance of child marriage and its relationship with girls’ school dropout in the education system. In Proceedings of the Second National Conference on Family and School Studies (Bandar Abbas, Iran). Retrieved from https://civilica.com/doc/2190531 (In Persian)
Abbaszadeh, M., Alizadeh Aghdam, M., & Malekzadeh Dizaj Cheraghi, B. (2025). Perceiving the physical and psychological consequences of child marriage and strategies adopted by the child spouses. Quarterly Journal of Women and Society, 15(60), 156–171.           https://doi.org/10.71801/jzvj.2025.1175550 (In Persian)
Abdurahman, D., Assefa, N., & Berhane, Y. (2023). Adolescent Girls’ Early Marriage Intention and its Determinants in Eastern Ethiopia: A Social Norms Perspective. Sage Open, 13(2).     https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440231182352
Afrasiabi, H., Mansouri Khosravi, H., & Baarluoei, M. (2024). Qualitative Inquiry of Contexts and Lived Patterns of Child Marriage from the Point of View Young Women. Journal of Woman and Family Studies, 12(3), 49-73. https://doi.org/10.22051/jwfs.2024.44148.2993 (In Persian)
Afshari, M., Khazaei, S., Amiri, J., Khalaji, J., & Afsar, A. (2024). Factors Affecting Early Marriage and its Health Consequences in Women under 18 in Migrant City: A Mixed Research. Qualitative Research in Behavioral Sciences (QRBS), 2(2), 15-26. https://doi.org/10.22077/qrbs.2024.7184.1027 (In Persian)
Afshari, Z., & Khosravinejad, N. (2024). The Interaction of Globalization and Gendered Social Norms in Explaining Gender Inequality in Higher Education in Selected Countries. Social-Economic Development Studies, 2(1), 23-44. https://doi.org/10.22051/ijosed.2025.51137.1057 (In Persian)
Ahmadi, K. (2021). The feminization of poverty: Causes and consequences; so‑called “child marriage” in Iran. Journal of Psychology, Social Sciences and Educational Sciences, 5(2), 163–177. (In Persian)
Ahmadi, K. (2021). The resonance of silence: A comprehensive study of child marriage in Iran. Applied Family Therapy Journal, 2(2), 508–527. (In Persian)
Ahmadi, S., Vakil, M., & Rezaei, A. (2015). Study of precocious marriage in provinces of Iran during the years 2006–2011. Population Quarterly, 22(93), 81–94. (In Persian)
Ajorlou, N., & Yarigholi, B. (2024). Analyzing the Educational Challenges of Early Marriage: A Meta-Synthesis Study. Journal of Woman Cultural Psychology, 16(62), 61-73. https://doi.org/10.61186/iau.1189102 (In Persian)
Alaei, P. (2025). A phenomenological Study of the Academic Problems of Female Students with Early Marriage and Providing Solutions to Reduce it. East Azarbaijan Provincial Department of Education, Deputy for Research, Planning, and Resource Development, Research and Study Unit. (In Persian)
Alamdo, A. G., Manu, A., & Kotoh, A. M. (2025). Impact of child marriage on adolescents’ health and socioeconomic development: An essay on Ethiopian perspective. Pan African Medical Journal, 51(84).    https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2025.51.84.36033
Alibazi, H., Zarei, E., & Mohammadi, K. (2023). Women's Lived Experience of the Consequences of Child Marriage; A Qualitative Phenomenological Study. Family Counseling and Psychotherapy, 12(2), 147-176.       https://doi.org/10.22034/fcp.2023.62736 (In Persian)
Ashayeri, T., Jahanparvar, T., & Ashtari-Mehrjerdi, A. (2024). Determinants and Consequences of Early Marriage: A Meta-Synthesis. Journal of Population Association of Iran, 19(37), 133-178.    https://doi.org/10.22034/jpai.2024.2008687.1306 (In Persian)
Azadeh, M. A., & Arami, S. (2016). A Study on Gender Socialization and Behavior in social dilemma. Women's Studies Sociological and Psychological, 14(1), 7-39. https://doi.org/10.22051/jwsps.2016.2331 (In Persian)
Azimi, K. (2020). The trend of girl child marriage in Iran based on national census data. Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters, 28(1), 96-98.       https://doi.org/10.1080/26410397.2020.1820655
Bagi, M., Hosseini, H., & Ali Mohammadi, M. (2025). Persistence of Regional Disparities in Female Child Marriage over the Past Two Decades. Journal of Applied Sociology, 36(4), 83-102.      https://doi.org/10.22108/jas.2025.142346.2543 (In Persian)
Bakhtiar, N., Sari, K. F., & Seman, N. (2024). The impact of early marriage on early childhood parenting among Malay communities. KINDERGARTEN: Journal of Islamic Early Childhood Education, 7(1), 33–40.  https://doi.org/10.24014/kjiece.v7i1.28963 (In Persian)
Bengesai, A., Amusa, L., & Makonye, F. (2021). The impact of girl child marriage on the completion of the first cycle of secondary education in Zimbabwe: A propensity score analysis. PLOS ONE, 16(6), e0252413.        https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0252413
Berliana, S., Kristinadewi, P., Rachmawati, P., Fauziningtyas, R., Efendi, F., & Bushy, A. (2018). Determinants of early marriage among female adolescent in Indonesia. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 33. https://doi.org/10.1515/ijamh-2018-0054
Burgess, R. A., Jeffery, M., Odero, S. A., Rose-Clarke, K., & Devakumar, D. (2022). Overlooked and unaddressed: A narrative review of mental health consequences of child marriages. PLOS global public health, 2(1), e0000131. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0000131
Charan, I. A., Xin, S., & Soomro, S. (2024). Exploring the child marriage practices and their impact on women’s lives in Pakistan: A qualitative analysis. African Journal of Reproductive Health / La Revue Africaine de La Santé Reproductive, 28(9), 73–84.
Delprato, M., Akyeampong, K., Sabates, R., & Hernandez-Fernandez, J. (2015). On the impact of early marriage on school dropout in West and Central Africa. International Journal of Educational Development, 44, 42-55.          https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2015.06.001
Eftekharzadeh, Z. (2015). Lived Experiences of Female Victims of Child Marriage. Journal of Social Work Research, 2(3), 108-156.          https://doi.org/10.22054/rjsw.2015.4746 (In Persian)
Enayat, H., & Zare, H. (2023). Qualitative analysis of the early child marriage experiences in secondary schools in Meimand city. Social Problems of Iran. 14(1), 135-162. https://doi.org/10.61186/jspi.14.1.135 (In Persian)
Ershadi, R. (2021). Examining the school as a learning organization (learning school). The Scientific Quarterly Journal of New Research in Education, 2(2), 86–106. (In Persian)
Fan, S., & Koski, A. (2022). The Health Consequences of Child Marriage: A Systematic Review of the Evidence. BMC public health, 22(1), 309.      https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-12707-x
Farahmand, M., Danafar, F., & Poorebrahimabadi, M. (2021). Analysis of the marital experiences of the spouse's child: Emotional-intellectual and powerless fusion. Two Quarterly Journal of Contemporary Sociological Research, 9(17), 115-145. https://doi.org/10.22084/csr.2021.22142.1833 (In Persian)
Fataei, M., Motlagh, M., & Aghajani Marsa, H. (2022). Studying the Contexts and Consequences of Child Marriage in Lorestan Province. The Quarterly Journal of Social Work Research, 9(32), 105–142.     https://doi.org/10.22054/rjsw.2022.69173.610 (In Persian)
Field, E., & Ambrus, A. (2008). Early marriage, age of menarche, and female schooling attainment in Bangladesh. Journal of Political Economy, 116(5), 881-930. https://doi.org/10.1086/593333
Fitria, M., Laksono, A. D., Syahri, I. M. M., Wulandari, R. D., Matahari, R., & Astuti, Y. (2024). Education role in early marriage prevention: Evidence from Indonesia’s rural areas. BMC Public Health, 24, 3323.           https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20775-4
Ghanadan, M., Moti’, N., & Sotoudeh, H. (1997). Sociology: Key concepts (1st Ed.). Tehran: Avaye Noor. (In Persian)
Ghareh-Hassanlou, F., & Khosh Soorat Movafagh, A. (2024). Antecedents, Consequences, and Activism Strategies of Child Marriage Based on Qualitative Meta-Analysis. Social Problems of Iran, 15(2), 229-268. http://dx.doi.org/10.61186/jspi.15.2.229 (In Persian)
Goli, A., Savab, Z., & Dorzadeh, Y. (2025). Spatiotemporal Analysis of Registered Child Marriage in the Iran Counties (The Case Study: Marriage Data of the National Organization for Civil Registration of Iran; 2016 ~ 2021). Women's Studies Sociological and Psychological, 23(2), 84-116. https://doi.org/10.22051/jwsps.2025.47948.2901 (In Persian)
Hajilou, F., Aghayari, T., & Alipour Abdar, F. (2022). The Contextual Causes of Child Marriage (A case study of Women Who Have Child Marriage Experience and Recourse to Health Centers in Tabriz). Quarterly Journal of Woman and Society, 12(48), 103-116.     https://doi.org/10.30495/jzvj.2022.28413.3610 (In Persian)
Harrison, A. (2023). Child marriage interventions and research from 2020 to 2022: Evidence review. Child Marriage Research to Action Network (CRANK). Girls Not Brides: The Global Partnership to End Child Marriage; UNFPA–UNICEF Global Programme to End Child Marriage. https://www.unicef.org/media/136646/file/CRANK-Evidence-Review-Child-Marriage-2023.pdf
Heidarabadi, A., Farzaneh, S., & Khosravi, M. (2018). The Effect of Cultural Modernization on Marriage Process and Family Formation of University Students in Golestan Province. Iranian Population Studies Journal, 4(1), 73–99. (In Persian)
Hosseinpour, Z., Zekriaei Juybari, Z., Ghorbaniyan, F., & Nourian Vasoukolaei, Z. (2022). The consequences of child marriage on the psychological and academic lives of female students aged 15–18 in Juybar County (2022). Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Humanities, Law, Social Studies, and Psychology (September 19, 2022, Dubai, United Arab Emirates). Arvin Alborz Conference Company. Indexed in CIVILICA (National ID: HLSPCONF03). https://civilica.com/doc/1537936/ (In Persian)
Hosseinyfar, M., & Akbari, Z. (2020). The study of Social Consequences of Early Marriage on girls’ education (case study: Esfarvarin’s Girl Students. Quarterly Journal of Research in Social Studies Education, 1(2), 123-146. https://dor.isc.ac/dor/20.1001.1.27832279.1398.1.2.7.4 (In Persian)
Kabiri, A., & Valaei, M. (2025). A Qualitative Study of the Context and Consequences of Child Marriage in Rural Areas of West Azerbaijan Province. Two Quarterly Journal of Contemporary Sociological Research, 14(26), 153-178. https://doi.org/10.22084/csr.2025.29695.2299 (In Persian)
Khodamoradi, F., & Mirzaei, H. (2025). Behind the Scenes of Early Marriages: Lived Experience of Girls under 18 in Married Life (Saqqez County). Woman in Development & Politics, 23(2), 355-388.     https://doi.org/10.22059/jwdp.2025.391794.1008524 (In Persian)
Koohi, K. (2019). A Survey of Child Marriage in the Country with Emphasis on East Azarbaijan Province. Child Rights, 1(3), 159-127. (In Persian)
Lotfi, R.. (2010). Early Marriage Health Consequences in Women. Journal of Women & Hygiene, 1(2), 67-79. (In Persian)
Majdi, A. A., Kermani, M., Baradaran Kashani, Z., & Khedmati, F. (2023). Women’s Lived Experience of the Phenomenon of Early Marriage: A Qualitative Study. Journal of Family Research, 19(2), 197-215.   https://doi.org/10.48308/JFR.19.2.197 (In Persian)
Mirhosseini, Z., & Ashouri, S. (2023). Recovering the Socio-Economic Role of Female Academic Entrepreneurs through Small and Medium-Sized Entrepreneurship: A Narrative Research. Women's Studies Sociological and Psychological, 21(2), 7-33.      https://doi.org/10.22051/jwsps.2023.42182.2698 (In Persian)
Mortezazadeh, Z., Azmoudeh, M., Hashemi Nosratabad, T., & Livarjani, S. (2024). Lived Experiences of Spouses' Childrens about Child Spouses and its Issues. Women's Studies Sociological and Psychological, 22(1), 204-241. https://doi.org/10.22051/jwsps.2023.42708.2715 (In Persian)
Mourtada, R., Schlecht, J., & DeJong, J. (2017). A qualitative study exploring child marriage practices among Syrian conflict-affected populations in Lebanon. Conflict and health, 11(Suppl 1), 27.     https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-017-0131-z
Naik, G., Behera, J., Patra, D., & Jena, S. K. (2024). Adolescent marriage a violation of sexual and reproductive health rights: Trend, spatial variation and covariate analysis from national family health survey. Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health, 25, 101493. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cegh.2023.101493
Nikkhah, H. A., Fani, M., & Asgharpour, A. (2017). Students’ Attitude Towards Marriage and Factors Affecting It. Journal of Applied Sociology, 28(3), 99-122. https://dor.isc.ac/dor/20.1001.1.20085745.1396.28.3.7.9 (In Persian)
Nobahari, M. (2020). A meta-analysis of studies on child marriage in Iran: Analysis of causes, consequences, and solutions. Islamic Human Sciences, 6(1), 114–125. (In Persian)
 
 
Nosratikhah, N., Beheshti, S. S., & Mokhtari, M. (2025). Sociological Explanation of Factors Affecting the Prevalence of Child Marriage (Case Study: Dishmok City). Journal of Applied Sociology, 36(1), 101-124.  https://doi.org/10.22108/jas.2025.142223.2535 (In Persian)
Nur, A. A., Amanda, S., Hanifa, F. F., & Ayudiputri, Z. Z. (2024). Determinants of child marriage in Indonesia: A systematic review. Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health Research, 5(2), 216–227.     https://doi.org/10.20473/jcmphr.v5i2.45777
Omraninejad, R., Hashem Zehi, N., Khabiri, K., Molla Norouzi, K., & Ghadimi, B. (2021). Identifying social, psychological and physiological factors related to the early marriage of girls in Qom a grounded theory. Women's Studies Sociological and Psychological, 19(1), 45-86.        https://doi.org/10.22051/jwsps.2021.33727.2324 (In Persian)
Plan International. (2021). Ending child marriage: A policy brief. Plan International. https://plan-international.org/publications/ending-child-marriage
Pourabbasi, S., Kord-Zanganeh, J., & Sharifi, M. (2023). Determinants of Women's Early Marriage in Ahvaz District, Iran. Journal of Population Association of Iran, 17(34), 179-206.           https://doi.org/10.22034/jpai.2023.1988905.1267 (In Persian)
Pourtaheri, A., Tavakoli Sani, S. B., Afzal Aghaee, M., Ahangari, H., & Peyman, N. (2023). Prevalence and factors associated with child marriage: A systematic review. BMC Women’s Health, 23, 531.   https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-023-02634-3
Rahimi, N., Ghodrati, H., & Ghodrati, S. (2023). Exploring Women's Experience of Early Marriages: A Study in Titkanlu City, Iran. Journal of Population Association of Iran, 18(35), 57-95.        https://doi.org/10.22034/jpai.2023.1999279.1277 (In Persian)
Rumble, L., Peterman, A., Irdiana, N., Triyana, M., & Minnick, E. (2018). An Empirical Exploration of Female Child Marriage Determinants in Indonesia. BMC Public Health, 18(1), 407. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5313-0
Sabzehei, M. T., & Kokabi Zaker, S. (2024). Reasons, contexts and consequences of early marriage from standpoint of married school girls. Journal of Social Work Research, 11(40), 33-82.        https://doi.org/10.22054/rjsw.2025.76158.720 (In Persian)
Sadownik, A. (2023). Bronfenbrenner: Ecology of human development in ecology of collaboration. In A. R. Sadownik & A. Višnjić Jevtić (Eds.), Re-theorising more-than-parental involvement in early childhood education and care (pp. 83–95). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-38762-3_4
Safavi, H. S., & Minaei, M. (2015). Lived Experiences of Teenage Girls as Wives: Case Study of Girls’ Early Marriage in AranvaBidgol. Women Studies, 6(0), 87-106. (In Persian)
Sattari Sefidan Jadid, K., Hajhosseini, M., Hejazi, E., & Roshanfekr, P. (2023). Challenges and Processe of Marriage Identity Construction in Early Marriage: A Grounded Theory Study. Journal of Modern Psychological Researches, 18(70), 97-105. https://doi.org/10.22034/jmpr.2023.16528 (In Persian)
Sayyadian Barkhordar, M., & Anbari, M. (2023). Child Wifehood Custom and Inequality in the Formal Education of Rural Girls (Study on the Rurals of Aleshtar City). Iranian Journal of Antheropology, 19(35), 111-136. https://dor.isc.ac/dor/20.1001.1.17352096.1401.19.35.5.9 (In Persian)
Schultz, D. P., & Schultz, S. E. (2000). Theories of personality (6th Ed.). Translated by: Y. Seyedmohammadi. Tehran: Virayesh. (In Persian)
Surtichi, T., Ghamari, M., & Hosseinian, S. (2024). Structural model of deviant behaviors based on identity styles and social norms in adolescents. Applied Research in Behavioral Sciences, 16(60), 1–18. (In Persian)
Suyanto, B., Sugihartati, R., Hidayat, M. A., Egalita, N., & Mas’udah, S. (2023). The Causes and Impacts of Early Marriage: The Ordeal of Girls in East Java, Indonesia. Sociologia, Problemas e Práticas, 101, 71–94.  https://doi.org/10.7458/SPP202310126851
Teimouri Arshad, R., Rezaei, A., & Sadeghi, R. (2023). Prevalence of Early Marriage of Girls and its Determinant Factors in Iranian Counties in 2016. Journal of Family Research, 18(4), 599-621.      https://doi.org/10.48308/JFR.18.4.599 (In Persian)
UNESCO. (2023). Child marriage and educational systems worldwide. UNESCO. Retrieved from https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/how-marriage-laws-can-contribute-protecting-every-girls-right-education
 
 
UNFPA & UNICEF (2023). Phase III of the UNFPA–UNICEF Global Programme to End Child Marriage. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). (2026/2/3). Retrieved from           https://www.unicef.org/media/145651/file/Programme%20document%20.pdf
UNICEF (2019). A profile of child marriage and early unions in Latin America and the Caribbean. United Nations Children’s Fund. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/lac/media/8256/file/Profile_of_Child_Marriage_in_LAC.pdf
UNICEF (2023b). Child marriage: Global progress and prospects. United Nations Children’s Fund. Retrieved from         https://www.unicef.org/reports/child-marriage-global-progress-and-prospects
UNICEF (2025). Child marriage. United Nations Children’s Fund. (2026/2/3). Retrieved from https://data.unicef.org/topic/child-protection/child-marriage/
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). (2023). Is an End to Child Marriage Within Reach? Latest trends and future prospects. (2026/2/3). Retrieved from https://data.unicef.org/resources/is-an-end-to-child-marriage-within-reach/
United Nations Population Fund (2020). State of world population 2020: Against my will—Defying the practices that harm women and girls. UNFPA. Retrieved from https://www.unfpa.org/publications/state-world-population-2020
Walker, J.-A. (2012). Early Marriage in Africa – Trends, Harmful Effects and Interventions. African Journal of Reproductive Health, 16(2), 231-240.
Warner, A., Stoebenau, K., & Glinski, A. M. (2013). More power to her: How empowering girls can help end child marriage. Washington, DC: International Center for Research on Women (ICRW). Retrieved from https://www.icrw.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/More-Power-to-Her-How-Empowering-Girls-Can-Help-End-Child-Marriage.pdf
 
 
 
Working Group of the Joint Inter-Agency Programme to End Child Marriage and Early Unions in Latin America and the Caribbean. (2022). Child, early and forced marriage and unions: Harmful practices that deepen gender inequality in Latin America and the Caribbean (Project Documents, LC/TS.2021/186). Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).
World Bank, & International Center for Research on Women (ICRW). (2017). Economic impacts of child marriage: Work, earnings and household welfare brief. World Bank Group. Retrieved from       https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/312761498512784050/pdf/116835-BRI-P151842-PUBLIC-EICM-Brief-WorkEarningsHousehold-PrintReady.pdf
World Health Organization (2014). Preventing early pregnancy and poor reproductive outcomes among adolescents in developing countries. WHO Press. Retrieved from https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/42903
Zareei, H., & Zarei, F. (2021). Causes and Consequences of Early marriage and the Occurrence of Child Marriage in Female Students in Yazd Province: Grounded Theory Study. TB, 20(3), 12-27. (In Persian)
Zhahirinia, M., & Azadarmaki, T. (2015). Value Orientation and its Relationship with Economical and Social Changes in Bandar Abbas city. Journal of Studies of Socio-Cultural Development, 3(3), 135–153. (In Persian)
Woman in Development & Politics
Volume 24, Issue 1
April 2026
Pages 35-75

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics