Differences in Marriage Anxiety Based on Gender Among Emerging Adults in Krueng Barona Jaya District, Aceh Besar Regency

Abstract

In early adulthood, individuals face a psychological developmental task of seeking and finding a potential life partner. During this stage, individuals may experience anxiety about marriage, as they transition from singlehood to becoming a husband or wife — a change that requires continuous adjustment throughout married life. When facing marriage, individuals often feel uncertain about what to do and how to prepare themselves. The lack of clarity about what will happen after marriage can lead to marital anxiety, which generally reflects concerns that one’s duties and responsibilities will increase or change after entering married life. The purpose of this study was to determine gender differences in marriage anxiety among emerging adults in Krueng Barona Jaya District, Aceh Besar Regency. This research employed a quantitative approach using a comparative method, with sampling conducted through the quota sampling technique. The study involved 150 emerging adults as participants. The instruments used were the Marriage Anxiety Scale and a gender questionnaire. The results showed a value of t = -2.775 and p = 0.007, indicating a significant difference in marriage anxiety between male and female emerging adults. The mean score for males was 92.53 (SD = 10.30), while for females it was 97.03 (SD = 5.6), showing that female emerging adults experience higher levels of marriage anxiety than males. Therefore, the research hypothesis was accepted.