The consequences of early marriage: Long-term effects on women's mental and sexual health

Abstract

Objective: Although early marriage is a serious and profound problem in Turkey, its effects on mental health were not comprehensively studied. This study aims to understand mental burden of the early marriage and the factors mediating this. Method: This study includes 72 participants. 41 women who married at the age of 17 or younger were selected as the study group and, 31 women who married at the age of 20 or later were selected as the control group. Psychiatric disorders were screened by a psychiatric interview and participants filled in Symptom Checklist-90R, Golombok-Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-28. Results: 53.7% of the women married early had at least one psychiatric disorder with major depression being the most common. The frequency of suicide attempt and nicotine use were also higher in the early married group. The early married women were more frequently exposed to domestic physical violence in marriage and emotional abuse, neglect, and physical abuse in childhood. Moreover, sexual functioning were found to be more impaired in women who married at an early age and this relationship was still significant when other psychiatric symptoms were controlled. Conclusion: Early marriage seems to be associated with an increased mental health burden including sexual dysfunction. Therefore, to protect women's mental and sexual health social policies should be developed.