4. Al-Kernawi,A., Graham,J., and Slonim-Nevo,V. Mental Health Aspects of Arab-Israeli Adolescents From Polygamous Versus Monogamous Families. The Journal of social Psychology 2002; 142,4: 446-460.

This paper discuses the mental health consequences of polygamy in a sample of 101 Arab Muslim adolescents (19 from polygamous and 82 from monogamous families) at Juarish (Ramla). The respondents completed the Self-Esteem Scale (SE), the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and the McMaster Family Assessment Device (FAD). The respondents from polygamous families had lower SE scores, statistically significant higher scores in 2 BSI dimensions, higher scores in all other BSI dimensions, and higher levels of self-reported family dysfunction. The respondents from polygamous families reported lower levels of socio-economic status, academic achievement, and parental academic attainment. Those variables may have had a more direct impact on mental health than did parental marital status. The data also indicated that perceived family functioning was the best predictor of mental health.