Intent to marry inter-racially: A test of dependence model of relationships among female sex workers and female office workers in Bangkok, Thailand

Abstract

This study tests the dependence model of relationships that hypothesizes that Thai female sex workers (FSW) intend to marry inter-racially because of their dependence on security, esteem and belonging needs satisfaction. One hundred and fifty FSW from bars and a control group of 150 female office workers (FOW) in Bangkok participated in the study. While the two groups do not differ in age profile, the FOW group is better educated and earns higher income. FSW perceive higher need satisfaction from inter-racial marriage and have higher level of intent to marry inter-racially than do FOW. LISREL modeling is used to test direct and mediated models of relationships between need satisfaction, family and friends’ approval and intent to marry inter-racially. Results show that needs satisfaction directly influences intent to marry inter-racially, and family and friends’ approval influences intent to marry inter-racially through the mediating effect of needs satisfaction. The results support the dependence model of relationships and the importance of support by family and friends.

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Paul T.J. James and the anonymous Social Science Journal reviewers for their helpful comments on the earlier versions of this paper.