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TITLE CELIBACY OF THAI MUSLIMS: FROM 1970 TO 2000
AUTHOR SIRAWAN SIRICHAIBOONWAT
DEGREE MASTER OF ARTS PROGRAM IN POPULATION AND SOCIAL RESEARCH
FACULTY INSTITUTE FOR POPULATION AND SOCIAL RESEARCH
ADVISOR VARACHAI THONGTHAI
CO-ADVISOR ROSARIN GRAY
 
ABSTRACT
The purposes of this study were to examine four factors among Thai Muslims, namely the circumstances surrounding celibacy, the demographic characteristics of celibates, and the determinants of celibacy as well as the living arrangements of celibates. This study was based upon the Population and Housing Census of 1970, 1980, 1990, and 2000 by the National Statistical Office. The main hypothesis was that urbanization is a determinant factor of celibacy. The Singulate Mean Age at Marriage (SMAM), proportions, and logistic regressions were employed in the analysis. Overall, the results of this study support the hypothesis that urbanization is a factor of celibacy among Thai-Muslims. The results clearly show that the trend toward celibacy among Thai-Muslims appears to have been in a transitional phase during the thirty-year period, and is currently moving toward a more modern pattern characterized by later marriage, with a substantial proportion of the population remaining single. Moreover, the proportion of celibates and the age at first marriage have both increased, especially among females who live in highly-urbanized areas such as in the Bangkok Metropolis. With a particular focus on the four provinces which have a high proportion of Muslims in the southern region of Thailand, the patterns of celibacy in 2000 are still related to the characteristics of urbanization. Living in an urban area is a significant determinant of celibacy among Thai-Muslims of both sexes. Finally, this part of the study also finds a considerably high proportion of celibates, especially the males, who live alone and who will be the elderly living alone in future.
KEYWORD CELIBACY / THAI MUSLIM / LIVING ARRANGEMENT / AGE AT FIRST MARRIAGE
 
FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES. MAHIDOL UNIVERSITY. THAILAND
POWERED BY GITC.