Marriage, a cornerstone of many societies, takes various forms across culture. While monogamy remains prevalent in many Western societies, polygamy, where an individual has multiple spouses, exists in various forms around the world. This raises a crucial question: How does the type of marriage impact women’s mental health?
A recent meta-analysis, a rigorous method for combining data from multiple studies, examined this question. The research, which analyzed data from over 3,000 women, found a significant association between marriage type and psychological symptoms.
Marriage Key Findings:
- Increased Psychological Distress: Women in polygamous marriages showed significantly higher levels of psychological distress across various domains, including:
- Anxiety: Experiencing excessive worry, nervousness, and fear.
- Depression: Feeling sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in activities.
- Somatization: Experiencing physical symptoms like pain or fatigued with no apparent medical cause.
- Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms: Experiencing intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors.
- Mixed Results: While women in polygamous marriages reported higher levels of psychological distress, they also showed:
- Higher Self-Esteem: A positive self-image and a sense of self-worth.
- Greater Life Satisfaction: Overall contentment with their lives.
- Family Functioning: The study also found that women in monogamous marriages generally reported better family functioning.
Understanding the Implications:
These findings highlight the complex relationship between marriage type and mental health. While polygamy may not necessarily lead to universally negative outcomes, it’s crucial to acknowledge the potential for increased psychological distress among women in such arrangements.
Seeking Marriage Support:
If you are experiencing any of the mental health challenges mentioned above, it’s essential to seek professional help.
- Telehealth: Convenient and accessible, telehealth offers a safe and private space to connect with a qualified mental health professional from the comfort of your home.
- EMDR Therapy: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is an effective treatment for trauma and other mental health conditions. It can help you process past experiences and alleviate distressing symptoms.
Finding the Right Support
If you’re considering therapy, it’s important to find a therapist who is a good fit for you.
For those seeking top-notch therapy in California, Texas, and Oregon, Dr. Sara C offers EMDR, CBT, and DBT therapies. Highly rated and serving Newport Beach, CA; Beverly Hills, CA; San Diego, CA; Portland, OR; Jacksonville, OR; Dallas, TX; and Houston, TX, she provides exceptional telehealth services.
In case of a mental health emergency, please call 911 or seek immediate professional help.
Source:
Rahmanian, P., Munawar, K., Mukhtar, F., & Choudhry, F. R. (2020). Prevalence of mental health problems in women in polygamous versus monogamous marriages: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Archives of Women S Mental Health, 24(3), 339–351. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-020-01070-8