Polygyny and Intimate Partner Violence: The Moderated Mediation Roles of Women’s Autonomy, Women’s Asset Ownership, and Media Access

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a widespread global concern. This leads to a range of negative health consequences, including physical harm, mental distress—such as anxiety and depression—and, in extreme instances, death. This study investigated the association between polygyny and IPV experience. Additionally, it examined the moderated mediation roles of women’s autonomy, asset ownership, and media access in this relationship. The analysis utilized data from the nationally representative 2015 Afghanistan Demographics and Health Survey. Our sample was restricted to currently married women aged 15 to 49 years (n = 21,324). Bivariate regression analysis, generalized structural equation modeling, and bootstrap techniques (5,000 samples) were employed to evaluate this association. The analysis reveals that the direct path between polygyny and experience of IPV is statistically significant for sexual (p < .01), physical (p < .05), any IPV (p < .01), and emotional IPV (p > .05), and the indirect paths: through women’s autonomy (p < .001). Women’s ownership and media access significantly moderated this association (p < .001). This study provides valuable perspectives on the association between polygyny and IPV, particularly in Afghanistan. Our findings emphasize the necessity for comprehensive interventions that integrate legal, economic, and educational empowerment approaches to confront the widespread culture of violence and assist women in their efforts to resist abuse.