Psychology Aspects of Early Marriage and Parenting in Malaysia

Abstract

In Malaysia, child marriage is important as it helps to prevent and reduce child sexual exploitation, child abuse, early pregnancies, and, as a result, child marriage through primary prevention and child protection education. This study aims to highlight the reasons that contribute to child marriage in Malaysia, where cultural and societal norms still apply in both east and west Malaysia among women who got married below the age of 18. This study also focused on background socio-cultural factors of Malaysian residents who still practice child marriage, either in the past or currently, because many of us still believe it is appropriate because girls will, in some manner, end up in marriages even at an early age. This study was also to identify the factors that influence girls and their families in their decision to pursue child marriage by looking at the background socio-cultural factors that contribute to child marriage in Malaysia.