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An Investigation of Sources of Women's Infertility-Specific Distress and Well-Being

Rieder Bennett, Sara Lynne
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1254934019

Abstract Details

2009, Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, Counseling Psychology.
Infertility is a medical issue that affects approximately one-fifth of the population and represents a major life crisis for many individuals and couples. Yet, little is known about these issues in the field of counseling psychology, despite our focus on normal development and adjustment. Given the likelihood of encountering persons with infertility in clinical work, it is imperative that counseling psychologists become more aware of the issues facing these individuals. Previous research suggested that gender ideologies may be related to the distress individuals experience due to infertility, but research aimed at understanding this relationship is lacking. The motherhood mandate, as discussed by Nancy Russo in 1976, provides a theoretical understanding of the link between gender ideologies and infertility-related distress. The motherhood mandate may serve to inform women’s primary appraisal (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984) of their experience of infertility, such that if motherhood is linked to attainment of an adult female identity, the inability to have a child may contribute to women’s distress and lesser well-being. The current study, then, aimed to increase knowledge of infertility and the distress experienced due to infertility through examination of the socialization practices that may shape women’s desires to have children, their appraisals of infertility, and the distress that may result when infertility blocks fulfillment of a desired social role. Using an online sampling method, 185 women with infertility completed the demographic and reproductive health questionnaire, the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), the Infertility-Specific Distress scale (ISD), the Appraisal of Life Events scale (ALE), and the Conformity to Feminine Norms Inventory (CFNI). Results indicated that higher adherence to traditional gender ideologies is related to higher threat and loss appraisals, and the relationship between traditional gender ideologies and infertility-specific distress is fully mediated by threat and loss appraisals. Lower general well-being is related to higher threat and loss appraisals and higher infertility-specific distress. Limitations to the current study, implications for practice, and future research directions are discussed.
Linda Subich, Ph.D. (Advisor)
194 p.
Psychology; Womens Studies
infertility; reproductive health; counseling psychology; gender roles; gender ideologies; femininity; well-being; stress and coping; motherhood mandate; primary appraisals

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Rieder Bennett, S. L. (2009). An Investigation of Sources of Women's Infertility-Specific Distress and Well-Being [Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1254934019

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Rieder Bennett, Sara. An Investigation of Sources of Women's Infertility-Specific Distress and Well-Being. 2009. University of Akron, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1254934019.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Rieder Bennett, Sara. "An Investigation of Sources of Women's Infertility-Specific Distress and Well-Being." Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1254934019

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by University of Akron and OhioLINK.