Polygamy, the practice of having multiple spouses, has grown in public awareness and acceptance over the past 20 years.
However, polygamous families face unique household challenges, frequently stemming from jealousy and competition between co-wives over a shared husband’s affections and resources.
Key Facts:
- Polygamy is most common in parts of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Globally, only 2% of people live in polygamous households.
- The meta-analysis included 24 studies with nearly 7500 participants total. Most studies were conducted in the Middle East.
- Pooled data showed women in polygamous marriages had 2.25 higher odds of depression compared to monogamous marriages.
- Women in polygamy scored higher on measures of somatization, anxiety, hostility, and other symptoms.
- Children of polygamy showed slightly greater psychological problems and lower academic achievement.
- Overall, polygamy appears associated with poorer mental health for women and children compared to monogamy. Proper support may reduce harms.
Source: BMC Pregnancy Childbirth
The Prevalence and Practice of Polygamy
Polygamy takes multiple forms, depending on the gender mix of spouses.
Polygyny refers to one husband married to multiple wives, while polyandry is one wife married to multiple husbands.
Polygynandry involves multiple intermarried husbands and wives.
Polygyny is by far the most common expression globally.
Estimates suggest only around 2% of the world’s population lives in polygamous households.
However, prevalence varies dramatically by region.
Polygamy is most widespread in parts of West and Central Africa, where up to 36% of marriages in countries like Burkina Faso are polygamous.
Polygamy is also relatively common among Muslims, at about 40% prevalence, and some Christian populations in Africa, at 24%.
Outside of Africa and some Middle Eastern cultures, polygamy is quite rare.
Nonetheless, some groups practicing polygamy exist even in Western countries.
For instance, fundamentalist Mormons splinter groups in the United States and Canada continue to engage in polygynous marriages, despite prohibition.
Motivations for polygamous marriage range from religious beliefs to seeking greater household resources.
Often, a driving force is men’s desire for more children, especially sons to pass on family names and inheritances.
Co-wives may marry willingly, hoping to gain status and security, or be coerced by circumstances.
Psychological Impact of Polygamy vs. Monogamy on Women & Children
In 2021, an international research team published a systematic review and meta-analysis examining how polygamy impacts the psychological well-being of women and children compared to monogamy.
Their goal was to synthesize the available evidence across global cultures on this issue.
The researchers systematically searched major medical, psychology, and social science databases for all relevant studies published up until April 2021.
To be included, studies had to compare psychological outcomes between women and/or children in polygamous versus monogamous marriages.
In total, 24 studies involving nearly 7500 participants met the eligibility criteria.
The majority were conducted in the Middle East, especially Israel, Turkey, and Iran.
Most recruited convenience samples and used validated scales, like the Symptom Checklist-90, to assess mental health.
Risk of bias was low to moderate.
Findings for Women in Polygamous Marriages
Seventeen studies examined impacts on women, including around 6000 participants total.
Pooled prevalence of polygamy was 41% among women in these mainly Middle Eastern samples.
The meta-analysis found women in polygamous marriages had 2.25 higher odds of experiencing depression compared to monogamous peers.
However, differences in anxiety, psychological distress, and other specific conditions were statistically non-significant.
Looking across studies using the Symptom Checklist-90 assessments showed polygamous women scored higher than monogamous peers on every symptom dimension measured.
These included greater somatization, anxiety, hostility, paranoia, and psychoticism symptoms among women in polygynous marriages.
Researchers hypothesized several reasons why polygamy may negatively impact wives’ mental health.
First wives often deal with traumatic losses of status, identity, and access to their husbands’ resources when a new wife enters the home.
Ongoing jealousy and competition for affection between wives in the same household also causes chronic stress.
And dilution of familial resources across larger polygamous families contributes to economic hardships.
Children of Polygamous Parents: Adverse Psychological Effects
Six studies examined approximately 1500 children raised in polygamous versus monogamous family structures.
As with women, children of polygamy showed small but consistently elevated scores across measures of psychological symptoms like anxiety, depression, and paranoia.
Polygamous parents’ children also demonstrated lower academic achievement and more social difficulties at school compared to monogamous families’ children.
However, strong family functioning seemed to mitigate these negative impacts somewhat.
Researchers suggested several reasons children of polygamous families may struggle more emotionally and academically.
With fathers’ attention divided, children often receive less parental investment in polygamous homes.
Children also get exposed to stressful conflicts between parents and co-mothers.
Economic resources stretched across large families may result in poorer living standards, hunger, or inadequate healthcare access.
Cultural Impacts and Limitations of Polygamy Research
The researchers noted some mental health differences may partially stem from cultural factors unrelated to polygamy.
For instance, showing psychological distress through physical somatic symptoms is more common in some non-Western cultures.
The studies’ reliance on mostly Middle Eastern Muslim samples also limits generalizing findings to other populations.
Nonetheless, taken together, the systematic review indicates polygamy bears association with higher risks for certain mental health issues in women and children compared to monogamy.
More support may help mitigate these potential harms.
Further research in diverse global populations using longitudinal designs could provide deeper insights into polygamy’s impacts.
Reducing Psychological Harms of Polygamy
Some experts argue polygamy inherently contributes to gender inequality, human rights abuses, and other systemic issues.
However, others note banning the practice won’t erase it where deeply embedded in cultures.
Pragmatically reducing associated harms through education and social support may be more beneficial.
Ensuring all parties enter into plural marriages voluntarily is an important starting point.
Providing resources to help polygamous families navigate unique challenges and stresses in healthy ways could also help.
Ultimately, families choosing polygamy out of free choice, not coercion, and cultivating love and teamwork between all members may create the happiest and most stable polygamous households.
The global prevalence of polygamy appears unlikely to disappear.
But with thoughtfulness and care for all involved, harms associated with plural marriage can hopefully diminish, promoting well-being for women, children, and men in polygamous relationships.
This systematic review contributes valuable insights toward that goal of reducing psychological impacts and improving family functioning for polygamous households worldwide.
References
- Study: Psychological impact of polygamous marriage on women and children: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- Authors: Ismail Shaiful Bahari et al. (2021)
