A Master's Thesis at the University of Basra Examines "Spatial Analysis of the Never-Married Population in the Shatt al-Arab District."
A Master's thesis in the Department of Geography, College of Education for Humanities, University of Basra, examined "Spatial Analysis of the Never-Married Population in the Shatt al-Arab District" by student Hiba Muwaffaq al-Husseini.
The study addressed the phenomenon of celibacy or abstention from marriage in the Shatt al-Arab District, considering it a relatively new and emerging phenomenon in the community. This phenomenon is significant, with demographic, social, and psychological impacts on both the individual and society. It has become widespread in most Arab societies, both urban and rural, necessitating attention and action. Its prevalence has increased in most countries worldwide, and Basra and the Shatt al-Arab District have also been affected. The study explored various reasons and motivations contributing to the rise and spread of this phenomenon from a geographical perspective. It also examined the characteristics of the population of marriageable age, identifying the associated economic, social, personal, health, and psychological factors, and understanding its consequences.
The study comprised four chapters: an introduction, a conclusion, and a set of findings and recommendations. The first chapter addressed the distribution of the never-married population in the Shatt al-Arab district, and included two sections: the first section discussed the numerical and proportional distribution of the population, while the second section addressed the environmental distribution. The second chapter examined the demographic, economic, and social characteristics of the never-married population in the Shatt al-Arab district, and consisted of three sections: the first section covered demographic characteristics, the second covered economic characteristics, and the third covered social characteristics. The third chapter addressed the factors affecting the never-married population in the Shatt al-Arab district, and included four sections: the first section covered economic factors, the second covered social factors, the third covered personal factors, and the fourth covered health and psychological factors. The fourth chapter addressed the consequences for the never-married population in the Shatt al-Arab district, and consisted of three sections: the first covered demographic effects, the second addressed social effects, and the third addressed psychological and health effects. The study reached a number of conclusions, the most prominent of which was the increase in the number of people who have never been married in the Shatt Al-Arab district in 2024, and the existence of a spatial variation in the phenomenon of not being married between administrative units and environment (urban - rural). The study also found that most of the reasons for not being married are economic reasons represented by the high dowries and marriage costs, which are met with the weak financial level of men as a result of the lack of job opportunities, i.e., unemployment, which led to an increase in the percentage of males of marriageable age. The study also showed that the increase in the percentage of females of marriageable age is due to social reasons represented by completing their education and looking for job opportunities, in addition to personal, health and psychological reasons that play a role in not being married. The lack of marriage has demographic effects, in addition to social, psychological and health effects.
