Marital interactions and experiences of women living in polygamy: An exploratory study

Abstract

T he study examines interactions and experiences of Bedouin women living in polygamous households in Israel. A mixed-method approach was applied in a two-part study. The quantitative part examined differences in differentiation of self and marital satisfaction between 50 Bedouin women in polygamous marriages and 50 in monogamous marriages. It found that, in polygamous families, women's levels of marital satisfaction were positively related to their I-position and fusion with others and negatively related to emotional cutoff and number of children at home, whereas among monogamous counterparts, marital satisfaction was only negatively associated with emotional cutoff. Surprisingly, fused relationships with the family of origin predicted higher satisfaction only in women in polygamous marriages. The qualitative part, which yielded deeper understanding of the authentic voices and experiences of 18 senior wives, revealed that they had severe emotional and physiological responses to their husbands' marriage to another woman. For most, particularly those who married young, living in a polygamous family adversely affected their marital satisfaction. Interactions ranged from violent relationships, accompanied by jealousy and anger, to respectful and harmonious relations. Along with the challenges, some women, especially the educated, chose proactive ways of coping. Educated women also preferred cohabitation with the other wife.

The prevalence of suicidal behavior and its associated factors among wives with polygamy marriage living in Gedeo zone, southern Ethiopia, 2020

“…Hence, the previous studies were conducted among pregnant, ante-natal and post-natal women. In-addition, polygamous marriage is related to a lack of emotional support, economic dependency, and burden in the care of children, which could be the contributing risk factors to the higher suicidal behavior [ 31 ].…”

“…As the numbers of wives increase, the challenges of polygamy marriage such as social, emotional, economic crises become significant, which are common reasons for low self-esteem, helplessness, hopelessness, and thoughts of harming self [ 38 ].…”

The biblical blueprint for marriage and the predicament of polygamy: A narrative review

“…However, women in polygamous unions desire more children and are less likely to use family planning than women in monogamous unions [34]. Polygamy is likely to create a complex family system that impacts negatively on the way the husband may relate to his wives and children [43], thereby creating distinct household problems, usually stemming from jealousy between co-wives over the husband's affections and resources [2]. In addition to studies documenting polygamy's detrimental effects on wives' health, researchers have identified polygamy as a risk factor for adverse child health outcomes [14] and [48].…”

“…Polygamy or polygamous marriage refers to a marriage where a spouse has more than one wife, otherwise referred to as polygyny or a spouse having more than one husband, otherwise called polyandry [31]. Polygamy can be defined as a marital relationship involving multiple spouses [2] and [8], comprised of three forms: polygyny refering to one situation where one "husband" is married to two or more wives, while polyandry refers to one wife married to two or more husbands, while polygynandry refers to a scenario where two or more wives are simultaneously married to two or more husbands [9], [12], [29], and [43]. For the interest of simplicity and the purpose of this study which is to emphasize the biblical blueprint for marriage, preferring monogamy as against polygamy, the author shall refer to the three types of polygamy identified above: polygyny, polyandry, polygynandry simply as polygamy.…”

Psychological impact of polygamous marriage on women and children: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Polygamy may create a complex family system involving the husband’s relationship and relations between subsequent wives and children [ 1 ]. Polygamous families have distinct household problems, usually stemming from jealousy between co-wives over the husband’s affections and resources [ 2 ].…”