Determinants of age first marriage - development linkages re-examined

Abstract

This paper examines the socioeconomic determinants of age at first marriage among evemarried women aged 25 and above in 1974 who were enumerated in the 1974 World Fertility Survey in Peninsular Malaysia. Both inter-age and intra-age components of the variation in age at first marriage are investigated within a causal structural framework employing standard path analysis and hierarchical analysis of covariance . There is a basic temporal increase in age at first marriage. Education, ethnicity and premarital work duration appear to have the strongest impact on marriage pestponement. Premarital occupational status and premarital work status have lesser effects. However, the seemingly moderate effect of child-hood place of residence on the timing of nuptiality is mostly explained by ethnicity and education.