A qualitative study of women in polygynous marriages

Abstract

These findings have implications for nursing and policy-makers. Nurses can provide education and implement programmes that teach coping mechanisms and stress management. Policy-makers should be made aware of the implications of polygynous marriages on women's health and well-being. There is the need to conduct more research to investigate the effects of polygyny on women's mental health and the need to develop programmes to support women.

Polygynous marriage and child health in sub-Saharan Africa: What is the evidence for harm?

“…Others emphasize cowife conflict and rivalry in polygynous marriage and its downstream consequences for the health of both women and children (Strassman 1997;Bove and Valeggia 2009;Tabi, Doster, and Cheney 2010;Meekers and Franklin 1995). Strassmann (1997), for instance, suggests that although cowife competition may rarely lead to deliberate attempts to harm each other's children, it is a source of stress, which is an important risk factor in child illness.…”

In and out of polygyny: A case of black South African women's experiences of marriage

“…Tabi et al (2010) allude to the fact that previous studies in literature have focused on socio-cultural factors; little research exists on psychosocial aspects of polygyny among women. Qualitative research methodology that examines in-depth the perceptions of women in polygynous marriages and their ways of coping is also missing.…”

“…Polygyny Tabi et al (2010) and Tertilt (2005b) define polygyny as a marriage structure or practice in which one man has married more than one wife at the same time. The term polygyny is often confused with 'polygamy', as they have many focus similar features.…”

The Palgrave Handbook of the Psychology of Sexuality and Gender

“…Miller & Karkazis, 2013;Tamini & Kahrazei, 2010), and mental health specifically (e.g. Hamdan et al, 2009;Shepard, 2013), little of this work has addressed counselling or therapy needs for those in continuing polygamous arrangements, though some do tackle these issues, addressing topics such as how nurses and policy makers can mediate negative effects of polygyny while acknowledging positive ones (Tabi et al, 2010), and how approaching the issue using an Islamic base and focusing on improving children's experience might be a way to mediate negative effects (Al-Krenawi et al, 1997).…”

“…In addition, the vast literature on polygamy evidences multiple other problematics concerning women, such as reasons for (and ways of coping in) polygamy (Tabi et al, 2010); women's attitudes to polygamy (Negy et al, 2013); polygamy and misogyny (Gleditsch et al, 2011); sexual, physical, and psychological abuse (Elbedour et al, 2006); and issues surrounding women's family function, marital life, and life satisfaction under polygamy (Al-Krenawi, 2012).…”