Selected issues in women's reproductive health: Psychological perspectives.

Stanton, Annette L.; Danoff–Burg, Sharon

doi:10.1037/10178-007

Cited by 17 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 109 publications

(156 reference statements)

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“…Explorations of women's physical health are increasingly sensitive to stereotypes of women's physical maladies as psychologically based (Goudsmit, 1994); of andocentric expectations about the onset, symptoms, and treatment of chronic illnesses (e.g., Shumaker & Smith, 1995); and of syndromes that pathologize common female experiences including menstruation (Caplan, 1995; Gallant & Derry, 1995), childbirth (Stanton & Danoff-Burg, 1995), abortion (Adler, David, Major, Roth, Russo, & Wyatt, 1990), and miscarriage (Madden, 1994). When gender is regarded more fully as a marker, not an explanatory cause of differences in women's and men's mental and physical health, researchers can begin to explore the impact of job-role quality and family experiences on health outcomes (Barnett, 1997).…”

Section: Generalizing the Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

Making Gender Comparisons More Meaningful: A Call for More Attention to Social Context

Yoder

Kahn

2003

Psychology of Women Quarterly

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We challenge researchers to consider sex and gender as a marker for possible social contextual differences. Disappointed by both philosophical and empirical attempts to find coherence in research making gender comparisons, we selectively review studies showing both context-specific similarities between women and men where overall comparisons found differences as well as context-specific differences where general patterns of similarity existed. These examples cut across embedded levels of social context, ranging from those immediately proximal to the individual (interpersonal) to organizational and broad societal structures. They suggest that seemingly identical contexts can have sweepingly different impacts on women and men and that effective social interventions be gender-sensitive.Comparing women and men, girls and boys, is a preoccupation that intrigues everyone from laypeople to research psychologists. A cursory check of PsycINFO in November 2002 catalogues 34,232 articles, 12,168 dissertations, 2,034 chapters, and 333 books under "human sex differences" (the Thesaurus term) and written in English. The topic areas covered by these studies are virtually universal across the discipline.A fundamental problem with our fascination with gender comparisons is that our exploration stops too soon. The vast majority of researchers documenting sex or gender differences seems to accept their description of difference as an explanation in and of itself. This way of thinking implies that sex or gender is the cause and that differences are rooted within women and men, girls and boys; as such, gender differences are part of our essential psychological natures. The purposes of the present paper are to challenge researchers both to think beyond superficial descriptions of difference and to consider more often the impact of the social context in which these differences occur.Our call to look to the social context to understand gender differences in behavior is not unique or even new. Shields (1975) cited similar arguments by Mary Calkins in 1896 and Leta Stetter Hollingworth in 1914. Naomi Weisstein (1968) reiterated the argument over 30 years ago:

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Section: Generalizing the Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

Making Gender Comparisons More Meaningful: A Call for More Attention to Social Context

Yoder

Kahn

2003

Psychology of Women Quarterly

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“…When compared with women with heart disease, cancer, chronic pain, or HIV+ status, infertile women reported equivalent levels of anxiety and depression to all but the chronic pain patients (Domar, Zuttermeister, & Friedman, 1993). It should be noted that findings regarding the prevalence of distress and depressive symptoms in infertile women are not entirely consistent (see Stanton & Danoff-Burg, 1995, for a review). However, the several studies described previously suggest that at least some women who confront infertility are at risk for heightened distress and depressive symptoms.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…are not entirely consistent (see Stanton & Danoff-Burg, 1995, for a review). However, the several studies described previously suggest that at least some women who confront infertility are at risk for heightened distress and depressive symptoms.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of group psychological interventions on distress in infertile women.

Domar¹,

Clapp²,

Slawsby³

et al. 2000

Health Psychology

114

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Infertile women express higher levels of distress than fertile women, with distress peaking between the 2nd and 3rd year. The purpose of this study was to determine whether group psychological interventions could prevent this surge. One hundred eighty-four women who had been trying to conceive between 1 and 2 years were randomized into either a cognitive-behavioral group, a support group, or a control group. All experimental participants attended a 10-session group program. Participants completed psychological questionnaires at intake and again at 6 and 12 months. Substantial attrition occurred, particularly in the control group. The cognitive-behavioral and support participants experienced significant psychological improvement at 6 and 12 months compared with the control participants, with the cognitive-behavioral participants experiencing the greatest positive change.

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“…Currently there is no prevention or 'cure' for PM; it is normally life-long, life-altering, invisible to others and impinges on many areas of life. While the psychological impact of infertility is relatively well documented (Stanton & Danoff-Burg, 1995), for PM it has been largely neglected (Panay & Fenton, 2008). A literature search reveals a paucity of articles referring directly to PM.…”

Section: Psychological Perspectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘It's not supposed to be this way’: Psychological aspects of a premature menopause

Singer

2012

Couns and Psychother Res

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Background: Premature menopause (menopause diagnosed at 40 years or under) is a challenging condition with no prevention or cure. Causes can be the result of surgical intervention or spontaneous and largely unknown. It affects 1–6% of women aged 14–40. Aim: This study investigated women's experience of diagnosis, perception of cause, treatment received, main concerns, perceived long‐term consequences and impact on psychological wellbeing. Method: A cross‐sectional single group design questionnaire study that included both quantitative and qualitative measures was used. It was distributed to women on the database of two specialist London clinics and an internet‐based patient support group. A thematic analysis was undertaken. Findings: The response rate was 62%. Women's experiences varied but showed common themes regardless of timing of diagnosis and services accessed. Improved understanding by health professionals could help this group accept and adjust to the condition more effectively as could psychological support. Fertility was a primary concern regardless of parity and there were several secondary impacts both physiological and psychological. Discussion: A clear need for the offer of emotional support was indicated for all, but particularly for teenage girls and single women who tended not to access support from their own social network. Conclusion: Young women with this diagnosis could benefit from the offer of counselling, though uptake may be influenced by individual factors and vary according to age and circumstances. A good understanding of the physical aspects of this condition is important in the counselling of this group.

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Selected issues in women's reproductive health: Psychological perspectives.

Abstract: Biologically and temperamentally . . . women were made to be concerned first and foremost with child care, husband care and home care.

Cited by 17 publications

References 109 publications

Making Gender Comparisons More Meaningful: A Call for More Attention to Social Context

Making Gender Comparisons More Meaningful: A Call for More Attention to Social Context

The impact of group psychological interventions on distress in infertile women.

‘It's not supposed to be this way’: Psychological aspects of a premature menopause

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