Polygyny and its Impact on the Psychosocial Well-being of Husbands

This study compares the mental, familial, and marital functioning of 156 men from polygynous families and 159 from monogamous families, all living in Bedouin-Arab communities in the Negev. The Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), the Enrich marital satisfaction questionnaire, the Index of Parental Attitudes, the McMaster Family Assessment Device (FAD), and the Rosenberg (1979) Self-esteem scale (SE), were utilized to assess the condition of both groups. Results indicate that men from polygynous families are more likely than their counterparts from monogamous families to be unemployed and to suffer from a myriad of psychological problems, including anxiety, depression, somatization, and psychotism. Moreover, men from polygynous families are more likely than men from monogamous families to perceive the functioning of their families as problematic, their marriage as less satisfying, and their relationship with their children as more difficult. The conclusion considers implications for public policy and future research.