Why Do People Choose Arranged Marriage or Self-Choice Marriage in Indonesia? An Exploration of Social Influences

Arranged marriage is a form of marriage that is common historically and still occurs in some regions of the world, like Indonesia. Little is known about why individuals/families choose arranged vs. self-choice marriage in contexts where both forms of marriage occur. This project explores three hypotheses to understand why people choose arranged marriage. Our first hypothesis explores intergenerational effects, predicting that adult offspring choose the same marriage pattern as their parents, particularly when their parents' marriage was successful. Our second hypothesis explores the role of urban and rural residence on arranged marriage, with the hypothesis that rural residents, through reduced exposure to western ideology, are more likely to engage in arranged marriage. Our third hypothesis is that education influences the decision to engage in arranged marriage, where individuals who attend pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) are more likely to choose arranged marriage than individuals in secular schools. We utilize data from the Indonesia Family Life Survey to test our hypotheses through the use of chi-square tests and logistic regression models. The results of this study provide insights into how people make marriage decisions in Indonesia.