WUNRN
Cambridge Journals
Epidemiology and Psychiatric
Sciences / FirstView Article, pp 1-16
14 March 2012
a1 Department of Social
Policy and Social Work, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 2ER, UK
ABSTRACT
Aims. The purpose of this systematic review is to identify and
appraise the present state of prevalence research on the mental health of
polygynous women, or plural wives, and to summarize its implications for future
research and social work practice.
Methods. PsycInfo (1967 to
November 2011) and Medline (1985 to November 2011) databases, systematic
bibliography hand-searches, personal communication with a leading expert, and
gray literature searching were applied in a systematic literature search of the
prevalence of mental-health issues in polygynous women compared to monogamous
women. Twenty-two studies meeting eligibility criteria were identified. Study
characteristics, methods and findings were systematically extracted and
appraised for quality.
Results. The identified
studies are of mixed methodological quality, but generally suggest a more
significant prevalence of mental-health issues in polygynous women compared to
monogamous women. Individual studies report a higher prevalence of
somatization, depression, anxiety, hostility, psychoticism and psychiatric
disorder in polygynous wives as well as reduced life and marital satisfaction,
problematic family functioning and low self-esteem.
Conclusions. The current state of
the research reveals with moderate confidence, a more significant prevalence of
mental-health issues in polygynous women as compared to monogamous women.
Implications for practice and research are indicated.
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