Living in Polygyny: Exploring Family Dynamics, Power, and Patriarchy in Women’s Mental Health

Polygyny, a form of polygamy where one man marries multiple women, remains a widely debated practice. Despite its global prevalence, there is a lack of in-depth studies exploring the emotional and psychological crises women face within it. This study examined the mental health status of women in Muslim polygynous marriages in Kerala, India, and its inter-linkages with unequal power dynamics and patriarchy in the polygynous family system. Using a cross-sectional exploratory research with a mixed-method concurrent triangulation design, data was collected from 100 participants for the quantitative part and 16 for the qualitative part through purposive sampling. Quantitative data, collected through a survey using the Brief Symptoms Inventory and a self-prepared questionnaire, was analyzed using SPSS (version 20). Qualitative data, obtained through in-depth face-to-face interviews, was thematically analyzed following a six-step process. Two major themes emerged: the initial emotional and psychological response of wives to polygyny and the role of family dynamics in shaping their long-term psychological well-being. The findings highlighted that family dynamics, shaped by the patriarchal structure and inter and intra-gender power dynamics in polygyny, significantly impact women’s mental health. The study underscores the need for further empirical research – both quantitative and qualitative – with larger samples to deepen the understanding of women’s experiences in polygyny and to inform policy initiatives addressing their mental health needs.