Physicians’ Perceptions of Somatic Complaints Among Bedouin Arab Women in Polygamous and Monogamous Marriages

Background: Women in polygamous marriages are known to experience higher levels of psychological distress. However, less is known about how physicians perceive and interpret their complaints and how these perceptions shape the patient–physician relationship. Aim: This study aimed to examine physicians’ perceptions of somatic complaints among Bedouin Arab women in polygamous versus monogamous marriages and to explore differences in the patient–physician relationship. Methods: This quantitative study included 126 participants—75 women in monogamous marriages and 51 in polygamous marriages—along with their treating physicians. Women completed self-report measures assessing psychological distress, self-esteem, marital satisfaction, and family functioning. Physicians provided information regarding clinic utilization patterns, symptom characteristics, and their interpretations of patients’ complaints. Results: Women in polygamous marriages reported significantly higher psychological distress, greater somatization, poorer family functioning, and reduced marital satisfaction compared to women in monogamous marriages, consistent with previous research. Physicians reported more frequent unscheduled clinic visits among women in polygamous marriages and were more likely to interpret their complaints as having psychological rather than purely physical origins. These patterns reflected differences in clinical perceptions and patient–physician interactions between the groups. Conclusions: The findings highlight differences in how physicians perceive and respond to complaints presented by women in polygamous versus monogamous marriages. These results underscore the importance of culturally informed clinical approaches and increased awareness of potential biases in primary healthcare settings.