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Studies and research on the effects of polygyny
This page summarises peer-reviewed studies on the effects of polygyny on wives' wellbeing, children's health and development, and the economy. Each study comes with a full reference, the country studied and its limitations. Most studies show association, not causation, and very few have been carried out in South-East Asia.
📘 Apa yang anda akan pelajari
- Understand how to read observational studies: association is not causation
- Know the main findings of studies on the wellbeing of wives and children
- Identify the factors most associated with better family outcomes
- Be aware of the gap in local research on polygyny in Malaysia
Key point: On average, studies find that wives in polygynous marriages report more psychological distress, with conflict, finances, lack of support and the father's absence as the main mechanisms. Causal evidence is still weak, but fairness in maintenance and the rotation of nights, openness and the father's presence are most associated with better outcomes.
Amalan minggu ini
- Read the summary table of studies and note each study's limitations before quoting it
- Discuss with your spouse social support and the father's presence at home
- Avoid sharing claims that it is 'proven harmful' or 'proven beneficial' without a source
Sekilas pandang
Kajian di Malaysia
Dapatan kajian SIS di Semenanjung (dibentang di UKM, 2010)
80% / 35%suami kata mampu adil / isteri pertama bersetuju
45.6%isteri pertama tidak berpuas hatiberbanding 68% isteri kedua berpuas hati
~60%anak isteri pertama kecewa
>90%anak kedua-dua kumpulan tidak akan berpoligami
Kesimpulan
Apa yang boleh dan tidak boleh disimpulkan
Boleh disimpulkan
- Secara purata, isteri dalam poligami melaporkan lebih banyak tekanan psikologi
- Mekanisme utama: konflik, kewangan, kurang sokongan sosial, ketidakhadiran bapa
- Kesan tidak seragam — bergantung pada konteks, kekayaan dan cara poligami diurus
Tidak boleh disimpulkan
- Poligami "terbukti" merosakkan setiap keluarga
- Poligami "terbukti" bermanfaat
- Dapatan Afrika atau komuniti Badwi terpakai terus di Malaysia tanpa kajian tempatan
1How to read studies on polygyny
- Most are observational studies. We cannot randomly assign people to polygynous or monogamous marriages. So the differences found may stem from other factors such as poverty, education, age at marriage or area of residence.
- Self-selection. Families who practise polygyny may already differ from monogamous families before the second marriage takes place.
- Different contexts. Most data come from Bedouin communities in Israel, Arab countries and Sub-Saharan Africa. Polygyny there takes a different form from registered polygyny in Malaysia, which requires court permission and a test of means.
- Measurement. Many studies use symptom questionnaires such as the BSI and SCL-90, not clinical diagnosis.
Social science studies do not determine Shariah rulings. However, they help us understand the harm that must be avoided, since the prohibition of harm is itself a principle of the Shariah.
2Wives' mental health and wellbeing
Shepard (2013): systematic review, 22 studiesStudies from 15 countries, including Israel, Jordan, Palestine, the UAE, Kuwait, Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, Syria, Nigeria, Uganda and Australia. This review found, with moderate confidence, more mental health problems among wives in polygynous marriages: somatisation, depression, anxiety, and lower life and marital satisfaction. Limitations: mixed study quality, measurement methods too varied for meta-analysis, and only English-language studies were included.
Rahmanian et al. (2021): meta-analysis, 13 studies, 3,166 womenA total of 986 of the participants were in polygynous marriages. Their psychological symptoms were higher on all dimensions, for example somatisation with a weighted mean difference of 0.53. However, they also recorded higher self-esteem and life satisfaction, and no significant difference in marital satisfaction. Limitations: a small number of studies, mostly from the Middle East.
Shaiful Bahari et al. (2021): meta-analysis, 24 studiesWomen in polygynous marriages had 2.25 times higher odds of depression (95% CI 1.20–4.20). The authors propose strengthening the proper practice of polygyny, not banning it. Limitations: a wide confidence interval and cross-sectional design.
Al-Krenawi & Graham (2006): 352 Bedouin-Arab women, IsraelA total of 117 women in polygynous marriages were compared with 235 women in monogamous marriages from the same ethnic community. The polygynous group showed higher psychological distress, somatisation and phobia, and lower family functioning and marital satisfaction. Limitations: a single marginalised community and a cross-sectional study.
Daoud et al. (2014): 464 Bedouin women, NegevWives in polygynous marriages had 1.91 times the odds of depressive symptoms and 1.73 times the odds of poor self-rated health. These differences remained after controlling for socioeconomic status. Social support reduced the risk by about 23–28%. Limitations: a single community and 2008–2009 data.
3Children: emotions, behaviour and schooling
Elbedour et al. (2002): literature reviewThe first comprehensive review of the effect of polygynous structure on children's behavioural, emotional and academic adjustment. The risk factors identified were marital conflict and stress, the father's absence, and financial strain. This shows that the mechanism is what matters, not the number of wives alone.
Al-Krenawi, Graham & Slonim-Nevo (2002): 101 adolescents, IsraelA total of 19 adolescents from polygynous families had lower self-esteem and more symptoms. However, they were also from poorer and less educated families. The authors themselves note that these factors and family functioning may matter more than polygynous status. Limitations: a very small sample.
Shaiful Bahari et al. (2021): childrenChildren from polygynous families had a slightly higher Global Severity Index (GSI), with a mean difference of 0.21 (95% CI 0.10–0.33). The effect is small but consistent.
4Health and child mortality in Africa
There is genuine scholarly debate in this field:
Strassmann (1997): Dogon, MaliA cohort study that found a higher risk of child mortality in polygynous families, and this association remained after economic factors were taken into account (exact magnitude to be verified from the article). Limitations: a single agricultural ethnic group.
Wagner & Rieger (2015): 26 African countriesDHS household data were used with household fixed-effects models. Children of mothers in monogamous marriages were taller for their age (better z-scores) than children of mothers in polygynous marriages. A mother's low rank in the hierarchy of wives was also associated with poorer growth. These associations varied greatly by country.
Lawson et al. (2015): 56 villages, TanzaniaAt village level, polygyny is associated with poorer child health. However, within the same village the association disappears or reverses, especially when the father lives with the children. Polygynous households were also wealthier in land and livestock. The authors conclude that drought and marginalisation, not polygyny, explain the differences between villages. Rieger and Wagner (2016) dispute this interpretation in PNAS.
Arthi & Fenske (2018): Igbo, NigeriaThere is a significant positive association between polygyny and child mortality in modern data, but it is not significant in historical data. The association is sensitive to selection, that is, the type of family that chooses polygyny.
Lawson & Gibson (2018): critical reviewPolygyny is most often associated with poorer child health, but there are also neutral or positive effects. This review stresses that methodological weaknesses prevent causal conclusions, and calls for a more nuanced approach.
5Economy and society
Tertilt (2005): economic modelThis is a quantitative model of Sub-Saharan Africa, not an observation. In the model, polygyny raises the bride price, and this "crowds out" physical investment. For reasonable parameter values, banning polygyny lowers fertility by 40%, raises savings by 70% and raises output per capita by 170%. Limitations: the results depend on the model's assumptions, and the African context, including bride payments to the bride's family, differs from Malaysia.
Rossi (2019): SenegalHousehold survey and DHS data were used. A wife has more children when her co-wife has more children, because children are the best claim on the husband's resources. This is the first quantitative evidence of reproductive competition between co-wives.
Henrich, Boyd & Richerson (2012): hypothesisAbout 85% of societies in the anthropological record permit polygyny. The authors argue that monogamous norms spread because of group benefits, for example fewer unmarried men, less crime and more investment in children. Limitations: this is a cultural evolution hypothesis supported by various indirect evidence, not a causal study of individual marriages.
Bove & Valeggia (2009): women's health, AfricaThis review links polygyny with faster transmission of sexually transmitted infections in the African context (multiple partners and low condom use). Data on mental health in that context remain limited.
6Studies in Malaysia
- The study by SIS and several universities (presented at UKM, 15 July 2010), led by Prof. Norani Othman. It involved more than 1,500 interviews with husbands, first wives, second wives and adult children in Peninsular Malaysia, from 2007. Reported findings:
- 80% of husbands said they were able to be fair, but only 35% of first wives agreed.
- 45.6% of first wives were dissatisfied, while 68% of second wives were satisfied.
- About 60% of first wives' children were disappointed.
- More than 90% of children from both groups said they would not practise polygyny.
- Legal and statistical studies: Jurnal Pembangunan Sosial UUM (2024) for the Federal Territories and Kedah, and Al-Qanatir (2024) for Kelantan. Both analyse court and religious department data. Their figures are used on the Statistics page.
A major gap: we have not yet found any large-scale peer-reviewed study of the wellbeing of wives and children in registered polygynous marriages in Malaysia, comparing them with marriages contracted without permission.
7Summary table: studies, countries and limitations
| Research | Negara | Design | Main findings | Main limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shepard 2013 | 15 countries | Systematic review (22) | More mental health problems among wives | No meta-analysis; English only |
| Rahmanian et al. 2021 | Mostly the Middle East | Meta-analysis (13) | Higher symptoms; higher self-esteem | Small sample |
| Shaiful Bahari et al. 2021 | Various | Meta-analysis (24) | Depression OR 2.25; children's GSI +0.21 | Cross-sectional |
| Al-Krenawi & Graham 2006 | Israel (Bedouin) | Cross-sectional, n=352 | Higher distress | A single community |
| Daoud et al. 2014 | Israel (Negev) | Cross-sectional, n=464 | Depression OR 1.91 after controlling for SES | A single community |
| Elbedour et al. 2002 | Various | Literature review | Risk through conflict and finances | Not a meta-analysis |
| Wagner & Rieger 2015 | 26 African countries | DHS, fixed effects | Lower child growth | Large variation between countries |
| Lawson et al. 2015 | Tanzania | Multilevel, 56 villages | No harm within villages | Pastoral context; disputed |
| Arthi & Fenske 2018 | Nigeria (Igbo) | Historical and modern data | Association with mortality; selection | Unobserved variables |
| Tertilt 2005 | Sub-Saharan Africa | Calibrated model | A ban increases savings and output | Depends on assumptions |
| Rossi 2019 | Senegal | Surveys and DHS | Fertility competition between co-wives | West African context |
8What can and cannot be concluded
- Can: on average, in the available studies, wives in polygynous marriages report more psychological distress. Factors such as conflict, finances, lack of social support and the father's absence appear to be the main mechanisms.
- Can: the effect is not uniform. It depends on context, wealth, whether the father lives with the children, and how the polygyny is managed.
- Cannot: claim that polygyny is "proven" to harm every family, or conversely that it is "proven" to be beneficial. Causal evidence is still weak.
- Cannot: apply findings from Africa or Bedouin communities directly to Malaysia without local studies.
- Practical implications: fairness in maintenance and the rotation of nights, openness, social support and the father's presence are what is most associated with better outcomes. These are in line with the Shariah's condition of justice. See Fiqh of polygyny and Psychology.
Sumber & rujukan
Shepard, L. D. — The impact of polygamy on women's mental health: a systematic review, Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences 22(1):47–62 (2013) — https://doi.org/10.1017/S2045796012000121Rahmanian, P., Munawar, K., Mukhtar, F. & Choudhry, F. R. — 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 (2021) — https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-020-01070-8Shaiful Bahari, I., Norhayati, M. N., Nik Hazlina, N. H., Mohamad Shahirul Aiman, C. A. & Nik Muhammad Arif, N. A. — Psychological impact of polygamous marriage on women and children: a systematic review and meta-analysis, BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 21:823 (2021) — https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-021-04301-7Al-Krenawi, A. & Graham, J. R. — A comparison of family functioning, life and marital satisfaction, and mental health of women in polygamous and monogamous marriages, International Journal of Social Psychiatry 52(1):5–17 (2006) — https://doi.org/10.1177/00207640060061245Daoud, N., Shoham-Vardi, I., Urquia, M. L. & O'Campo, P. — Polygamy and poor mental health among Arab Bedouin women: do socioeconomic position and social support matter?, Ethnicity & Health 19(4):385–405 (2014) — https://doi.org/10.1080/13557858.2013.801403Elbedour, S., Onwuegbuzie, A. J., Caridine, C. & Abu-Saad, H. — The effect of polygamous marital structure on behavioral, emotional, and academic adjustment in children: a comprehensive review of the literature, Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review 5(4):255–271 (2002) — https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020925123016Al-Krenawi, A., Graham, J. R. & Slonim-Nevo, V. — Mental health aspects of Arab-Israeli adolescents from polygamous versus monogamous families, Journal of Social Psychology 142(4):446–460 (2002) — https://doi.org/10.1080/00224540209603911Strassmann, B. I. — Polygyny as a risk factor for child mortality among the Dogon, Current Anthropology 38(4):688–695 (1997) — https://doi.org/10.1086/204657Wagner, N. & Rieger, M. — Polygyny and child growth: evidence from twenty-six African countries, Feminist Economics 21(2):105–130 (2015) — https://doi.org/10.1080/13545701.2014.927953Lawson, D. W., James, S., Ngadaya, E., Ngowi, B., Mfinanga, S. G. M. & Borgerhoff Mulder, M. — No evidence that polygynous marriage is a harmful cultural practice in northern Tanzania, PNAS 112(45):13827–13832 (2015) — https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1507151112Rieger, M. & Wagner, N. — Polygyny and child health revisited, PNAS 113(13) (2016) — https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1600882113Arthi, V. & Fenske, J. — Polygamy and child mortality: historical and modern evidence from Nigeria's Igbo, Review of Economics of the Household 16(1):97–141 (2018) — https://doi.org/10.1007/s11150-016-9353-xLawson, D. W. & Gibson, M. A. — Polygynous marriage and child health in sub-Saharan Africa: what is the evidence for harm?, Demographic Research 39(6):177–208 (2018) — https://doi.org/10.4054/DemRes.2018.39.6Tertilt, M. — Polygyny, fertility, and savings, Journal of Political Economy 113(6):1341–1371 (2005) — https://doi.org/10.1086/498049Rossi, P. — Strategic choices in polygamous households: theory and evidence from Senegal, Review of Economic Studies 86(3):1332–1370 (2019) — https://doi.org/10.1093/restud/rdy052Henrich, J., Boyd, R. & Richerson, P. J. — The puzzle of monogamous marriage, Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B 367(1589):657–669 (2012) — https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2011.0290Bove, R. & Valeggia, C. — Polygyny and women's health in sub-Saharan Africa, Social Science & Medicine 68(1):21–29 (2009) — https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2008.09.045The Nut Graph (Ding Jo-Ann) — The impact of polygamy in Malaysia (21 Jul 2010) — https://www.thenutgraph.com/the-impact-of-polygamy-in-malaysia/Othman, N., Nadarajah, Y. & Mohd Isa, R. (eds.), Springer — Polygamous Marriages in Peninsular Malaysia: Family, Gender and Religion at the Crossroads (2025) — https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-9104-0Jurnal Pembangunan Sosial, UUM, Vol. 27 (2024) — https://repo.uum.edu.my/id/eprint/32071/1/JPS%2027%202024%2025-49.pdfAl-Qanatir Vol. 33 No. 6 (2024) — https://al-qanatir.com/aq/article/download/1076/701/5009
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