Prioritization of Partner Selection Criteria According the Perceptions of Female Students of Qom University of Medical Sciences

Background and Objectives Marriage is one of the effective factors that can promote mental health and lifestyle and reduce the risk of individual and social disorders. This study aims to prioritize the criteria for partner selection according to the perceptions of female students of Qom University of Medical Sciences (QUMS) in 2017. Methods: This is descriptive-analytical study with a cross-sectional design was conducted in 2017. The study population consists of all single female students of QUMS, of whom 373 were selected by multi-stage sampling method. The instrument was the 22-item Preference Criteria of Spouse Selection Inventory (PCSSI) with acceptable validity and reliability. Data were analyzed in SPSS software, version 20 statistical software using descriptive statistics and Friedman’s test, Chi-square test, t-test, and one-way analysis of variance. Results: The age range of the participants was 18-38 years, and their semester range was 1-15. The results of Friedman test showed a significant difference between the mean ranks of partner selection criteria. Mental health had the highest priority, while being from the same ethnicity had the lowest priority. There was a significant negative correlation between age and importance of partner selection criteria (P<0.001). In addition, there was a significant difference between students with associate degree and the students with bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and PhD degree in terms of the importance of partner selection criteria (P<0.001). Conclusion: Female students of QUMS pay more attention to mental health, responsibility, and chastity criteria in choosing a partner.