Syrian Immigrant Women's Second Wife Culture: A Study on Psychosocial Consequences
Syrian Immigrant Women's Second Wife Culture: A Study on Psychosocial Consequences

Summary/Abstract: Objective: This study was conducted to determine Syrian immigrant women's views on second-wife culture and its psychosocial consequences. Method: This study was conducted between June and July 2024 through in-depth, face-to-face interviews employing a phenomenological design, one of the qualitative research methods. The sample consisted of women who were over 18 years of age, married, second wives, and able to communicate through an interpreter. Participants were selected using the "criterionbased sampling technique," a type of purposive sampling method. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview form and analysed through thematic coding. Results: The study identified five main themes: Theme 1. Decision to marry as a second wife; Theme 2. Relations with the spouse; Theme 3. Relations with the second wife; Theme 4. Relations with children; and Theme 5. Desired changes in their lives. Cultural, familial, religious, and community-based factors were found to influence women’s decisions to become second wives. Conclusion: Syrian migrant women’s awareness of becoming second wives is shaped by the family and society in which they live. These marriages cause women to experience psychological difficulties in their social lives and cannot create a sense of belonging. The factors compelling women into these marriages should be addressed and eliminated. It is important to strengthen the psychological aspects of women in these marriages and ensure their social integration.

• Details
• Contents