Emotional Maturity as a Predictor of Marriage Readiness in Early Adult Women from Batak Ethnic Groups

This study explores the relationship between emotional maturity and marriage readiness among early adult women in Batak families. Utilizing a quantitative correlational research design, the study involved 87 participants aged 21-25 years. Emotional maturity and marriage readiness were measured using the Emotional Maturity Scale (EMS) and the Criteria for Marriage Readiness Questionnaire (CMRQ), respectively. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, assumption testing, and Pearson correlation analysis. Results indicated a significant positive correlation (r = 0.193, p = 0.036) between emotional maturity and marriage readiness, suggesting that higher levels of emotional maturity are associated with higher levels of marriage readiness. The findings highlight the importance of emotional stability, progression, social adjustment, personality integration, and independence in preparing individuals for marriage. This research underscores the critical role of fostering emotional maturity to enhance marriage readiness, providing valuable insights for future studies and interventions aimed at supporting early adult women in Batak families. The study concludes that emotional maturity is a significant factor influencing marriage readiness, contributing to the successful transition into married life.


INTRODUCTION
Human development encompasses various stages, and one critical phase is the transition from adolescence to early adulthood.This period is marked by the formation of a more prepared individual ready to face life's challenges.Early adulthood, defined as ages 18 to 40, is a time when individuals complete their growth and secure their place in society alongside other adults (Hurlock, 2011).During this stage, many begin to focus on preparing themselves to handle increasing responsibilities, leave home for work, integrate into society, engage in social activities, and seek life partners (Putri, 2019).According to Hurlock (2011), the developmental tasks during early adulthood include the desire to be responsible citizens, join suitable social groups, start careers, find life partners, manage households, and raise children.
Marriage is a pivotal aspect of human life, serving as a formalized union between partners based on mutual affection and commitment (Nurviana & Hendriani, 2021).It involves the exchange and reception of love, helping partners fulfill each other's needs.For a successful marriage, individuals must prepare themselves to fulfill their roles within the family and handle potential marital issues to achieve happiness (Davita, 2021).However, some early adults are not ready for marriage due to various factors, leading them to delay this significant life event.
In the Batak ethnic community, early adult women often express reluctance to marry due to ongoing education, career aspirations, financial instability, or mental unpreparedness, as revealed in interviews conducted on February 4, 2023.The women expressed a desire to achieve personal and professional goals before considering marriage.This trend aligns with findings by Rosalina and Ekasari (2015), who noted that women pursuing higher education are more likely to prioritize their careers over early marriage.In the Batak community, the average age of brides exceeds the legal minimum, often above 23 years, with most having completed at least a bachelor's degree (Barus, 2014).Additionally, higher social status, education, or job positions of women in Batak families typically result in higher dowry (sinamot) requirements from the groom's family (Simanjuntak, 2013).
Marriage in Batak culture involves elaborate traditional ceremonies, which include steps such as marsitandaan (family introductions), marhori-hori dinding (family meeting to plan the wedding), marhusip (extended family meeting), marhata sinamot (discussion of dowry), martumpol (engagement ceremony involving the church), martonggoraja (family task delegation for the wedding), pasu-pasu (wedding blessing in church), and the wedding feast (Novelita, Luthfie, & Fitriah, 2019).These traditions highlight the importance of readiness for marriage to ensure a harmonious and happy family life.Duval and Miller (1985) define marriage readiness as the preparedness to engage in a spousal relationship, handle new responsibilities, and manage a household and child-rearing.Carroll et al. (2009) emphasize that marriage readiness involves confidence in taking on marital responsibilities.
Emotional maturity is a crucial factor influencing marriage readiness.It encompasses emotional stability, progression, social adjustment, personality integration, and independence (Singh & Bhargava, 2005).The Batak community values openness and expressiveness in emotional expression (Suciati, 2016).Women entering marriage in the Batak community must adapt to new familial roles and environments, necessitating emotional maturity to manage potential conflicts and maintain harmony (Karunia, Salsabilah & Wahyuningsih, 2018).Singh and Bhargava (2005) describe emotional maturity as sensitivity to one's emotions and appropriate reactions to various emotional behaviors.
Previous research supports the link between emotional maturity and marriage readiness.Salsabila (2019) found a positive correlation between the two variables, indicating that higher emotional maturity contributes significantly to marriage readiness.Similarly, Fitriani and Handayani (2021) confirmed a significant positive relationship between emotional maturity and marriage readiness.Thahura (2020) noted that young women (ages 18-20) often lack emotional maturity, affecting their marriage readiness due to issues such as difficulty controlling emotions, reliance on others, and impatience.This study aims to explore the relationship between emotional maturity and marriage readiness specifically among early adult women in the Batak community, addressing a gap in the current research.

Instrument Testing
Validity and reliability tests for the questionnaires were conducted using a try-out method.Emotional Maturity Scale; Validity Test: Using IBM SPSS version 25.0, 9 out of 48 items were eliminated due to a corrected item-total correlation index < 0.3.The remaining 39 items were valid.Reliability Test: Using Cronbach's Alpha technique, the reliability coefficient was 0.928, indicating high reliability.

Data Analysis Method
Data analysis was conducted after collecting all the data from the subjects.The analysis aims to calculate and answer the research questions and test the hypotheses (Sugiyono, 2017).IBM SPSS version 25.0 was used for calculations.Descriptive Analysis Descriptive analysis is a process aimed at analyzing data by describing or depicting the collected data without making general conclusions (Sugiyono, 2017).Assumption Testing Assumption testing is necessary for using correlation methods to draw accurate conclusions from the collected data.The tests conducted include: 1) Normality Test: This test checks whether the data distribution is normal.
If the significance value is greater than 0.05, the data is normally distributed; otherwise, it is not (Sugiyono, 2017).2) Linearity Test: This test determines whether there is a linear relationship between the variables (Siregar & Sofyan, 2014).Using the ANOVA table in SPSS, linearity is checked based on Deviation From Linearity.If the significance value (p) > 0.05, a linear relationship exists; if (p) < 0.05, the relationship is non-linear.3) Hypothesis Testing This study uses the Pearson Product-Moment correlation technique to examine the relationship between the independent variable X (Emotional Maturity) and the dependent variable Y (Marriage Readiness).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Research Orientation and Data Collection
The research was conducted by distributing questionnaires through Google Forms, shared via social media platforms WhatsApp and Instagram.The distribution through WhatsApp and Instagram was done with permission to share the questionnaire with individuals who met the study's criteria.Data collection took place from October 11 to October 28, 2023.There were some challenges in collecting the data, as the researcher had difficulty reaching the target number of participants within a short period.Some subjects delayed completing the questionnaire due to their busy schedules, requiring more time for participants to finish the questionnaire.

Research Participants
The respondents in this study consisted of 87 early adult women from Batak families.Based on Table 4, the age characteristics of the research participants show that the majority were 21 old, representing 54% of the participants.The smallest group was 24 years old, comprising 4.6% of the participants.Based on Table 5, the employment status of the participants shows that the majority were continuing their education, representing 58.6%, while the smallest group was those working while continuing their education, representing 3.4%.

Descriptive Statistics of Research Variables
The descriptive statistics in Table 6 show that 87 participants had a minimum emotional maturity score of 78 and a maximum of 181, with a standard deviation of 20.514 and an average score of 129.71.For marriage readiness, participants had a minimum score of 86 and a maximum of 148, with a standard deviation of 13.714 and an average score of 125.36.
Emotional Maturity Variable.Table 7 shows that the emotional maturity levels of the 87 participants are divided into three categories: high, moderate, and low.In the low category, there were 0% of participants.In the moderate category, 51% of participants fell within this range, while 49% were in the high category.With an average score of 129.71, it can be said that early adult women in Batak families have a high level of emotional maturity, with 49% of participants falling into this category.Marriage Readiness Variable.Table 8 shows that the marriage readiness levels of the 87 participants are divided into three categories: high, moderate, and low.In the low category, there were 0% of participants.In the moderate category, 18% of participants fell within this range, while 82% were in the high category.With an average score of 125.36, it can be said that early adult women in Batak families have a high level of marriage readiness, with 82% of participants falling into this category.

Assumption Test Results
Assumption tests in this study included normality and linearity tests.These tests were conducted to determine whether the collected data met the analytical assumptions required for hypothesis testing.Normality Test The normality test in this study was based on the Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test.Based on the normality test results in Table 9, the emotional maturity variable has a Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test value of 0.200 with a probability (p) or significance of p>0.05, indicating that the emotional maturity variable is normally distributed.The marriage readiness variable has a Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test value of 0.058 with a probability (p) or significance of p>0.05, indicating that the marriage readiness variable is normally distributed.Therefore, the data is normally distributed based on the Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test.b.Linearity Test The linearity test aims to determine whether the independent and dependent variables have a significant linear relationship.The linearity test calculation was performed using IBM SPSS version 25.0 for Windows.From the linearity test results in Table 10, the Deviation from Linearity value is 0.998 with a significance of 0.515 (p>0.05),indicating that emotional maturity and marriage readiness among early adult women in Batak families are linearly related.

Hypothesis Test Results
The hypothesis test in this study used Pearson correlation statistics to examine the relationship between emotional maturity (X) and marriage readiness (Y) among early adult women in Batak families.The calculation was performed using IBM SPSS version 25.0 for Windows.Based on Table 11, the Pearson Correlation is 0.193 with a significance of 0.036 (p<0.05),indicating a significant positive relationship between emotional maturity and marriage readiness among early adult women in Batak families.Thus, an increase in emotional maturity is associated with an increase in marriage readiness, and vice versa..036N 87 The correlation test results show a significant positive relationship between emotional maturity and marriage readiness among early adult women in Batak families.The correlation analysis revealed an r-value of 0.193 with a significance level of 0.036 (p<0.05),supporting the study's hypothesis.This means that the higher the emotional maturity of early adult women in Batak families, the higher their marriage readiness.This strong relationship is evident from the high average scores of both variables.This finding aligns with the study by Al'azm and Fitniwilis (2023), which demonstrated a positive and significant correlation between emotional maturity and marriage readiness, with a strong relationship level.
The effective contribution of emotional maturity to marriage readiness was 3.69%.These results indicate that emotional maturity significantly contributes to marriage readiness, making it a crucial factor influencing the readiness of early adult women in Batak families to marry.This finding is consistent with previous research indicating that high emotional maturity supports increased marriage readiness among early adults (Salsabila, 2019).The study found that participants' emotional maturity level was high, with an average score of 129.71.This suggests that participants are sensitive to their emotions and capable of understanding how to react to various emotional behaviors.Additionally, participants' marriage readiness was also high, with an average score of 125.36, indicating their preparedness for future marital life.
These findings underscore the importance of emotional maturity for early adult women in Batak families to be more prepared for marriage.Emotional maturity is essential for managing marital life and is a foundation for deciding readiness to build a household with a partner (Siswandari & Astrella, 2023).The ability to control and manage emotions is a crucial factor in determining marital success (Zuhdi & Yusuf, 2022).Therefore, individuals with stable emotional maturity are better equipped to handle potential issues in married life.The study adhered to research protocols, but some limitations were encountered.One limitation was the time required to collect data, as reaching the target number of participants was challenging, and some subjects delayed completing the questionnaire due to their busy schedules.

Implications for Counseling and Guidance
The findings of this study, which demonstrate a significant positive relationship between emotional maturity and marriage readiness among early adult women in Batak families, have several important implications for counseling and guidance services.Counselors should prioritize helping clients develop emotional maturity, recognizing its crucial role in preparing individuals for marriage.Counseling sessions can incorporate techniques and activities that promote self-awareness, emotional regulation, empathy, and resilience.By enhancing emotional maturity, counselors can help clients build a strong foundation for their future marital relationships.Educational institutions and community organizations should offer marriage preparation programs that address both emotional maturity and practical aspects of marriage.These programs can include workshops on communication skills, conflict resolution, financial planning, and shared responsibilities.Emphasizing the importance of emotional maturity in these programs can better prepare individuals for the complexities of marital life.Given that the study participants were predominantly university students, counseling interventions should be tailored to the unique challenges faced by this demographic.For instance, counselors can provide guidance on balancing educational and career aspirations with personal relationships.Counseling can also address the pressures and expectations from family and cultural traditions, helping clients navigate these influences while making informed decisions about their readiness for marriage.Understanding that early adult women in Batak families may face specific cultural and familial expectations, counselors should be culturally sensitive and supportive of diverse family structures and dynamics.Providing a safe space for clients to explore their values, beliefs, and aspirations regarding marriage can empower them to make choices that align with their personal goals and cultural contexts.Counselors should consider offering longitudinal support to clients as they transition from singlehood to married life.This ongoing support can include follow-up sessions to address any emerging issues, reinforce emotional maturity skills, and provide guidance on managing marital challenges.By maintaining a long-term relationship with clients, counselors can help them navigate the evolving dynamics of married life and sustain their emotional well-being.Counselors should collaborate with other professionals, such as educators, financial advisors, and healthcare providers, to offer a holistic approach to marriage readiness.This interdisciplinary collaboration can ensure that clients receive comprehensive support, addressing all aspects of their readiness for marriage.Counselors should encourage clients to engage in open and honest communication with their partners and family members.Facilitating discussions about expectations, roles, and responsibilities in marriage can help clients build strong, transparent relationships that are essential for marital success.By implementing these strategies, counseling and guidance services can significantly enhance the marriage readiness of early adult women in Batak families, ensuring they are wellprepared emotionally and practically for the responsibilities and challenges of marital life.This approach not only supports individual well-being but also contributes to the overall stability and harmony of marital relationships.

CONCLUSION
This study found a significant positive relationship between emotional maturity and marriage readiness among early adult women in Batak families, indicating that higher levels of emotional maturity are associated with higher levels of marriage readiness.The study's results, supported by a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.193 with a significance level of 0.036 (p<0.05),highlight the critical role of emotional maturity in preparing individuals for marriage.The findings suggest that emotional stability, progression, social adjustment, personality integration, and independence are essential factors that contribute to an individual's readiness for marriage.This research emphasizes the importance of fostering emotional maturity to enhance marriage readiness and provides valuable insights for future studies and interventions aimed at supporting early adult women in Batak families in their journey towards successful and fulfilling marital lives.

Table 2 .
Blueprint of the Marriage Readiness Scale

Table 3 .
Blueprint of the Valid Emotional Maturity Scale Validity Test: Using IBM SPSS version 25.0, 5 out of 42 items were eliminated due to a corrected item-total correlation index < 0.3.The remaining 37 items were valid.Reliability Test: Using Cronbach's Alpha technique, the reliability coefficient was 0.916, indicating high reliability.

Table 10 .
ANOVA Table for Linearity Test of Emotional Maturity and Marriage Readiness