The Effect of Infertility on Marriage and Self‐concept

Hirsch, Anne; Hirsch, Stephen M.

doi:10.1111/j.1552-6909.1989.tb01611.x

Cited by 49 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…It can lead to depression (Link & Darling, 1986;Singh & Neki, 1982), anxiety (O'Moore, O'Moore, Harrison, Murphy, & Carruthers, 1983;Valentine, 1986), guilt (Slade, 1986), deteriorating marriages (Hirsch & Hirsch, 1989;Johnston et al, 1985;Lalos, Lalos, Jacobsson, & von Schoultz, 1985) and lowered self-esteem (Bernstein, Potts, & Mattox, 1985;Link & Darling, 1986). Difficulty coping with infertility is often exacerbated by self-imposed social isolation (Link & Darling, 1986).…”

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confidence: 97%

The Effects of Infertility on Parent--Child Relationships and Adjustment

Allen¹,

Maguire²,

Williams³

et al. 1996

Children's Health Care

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As medical technology has improved, greater numbers of previously infertile couples have been able to conceive. Evidence of idealized views of parenting and unrealistic expectations for their children has fueled speculation about a possible negative impact of infertility on parent-child relationships. We evaluated the impact of past infertility on parent and child adjustment. Women with a history of infertility (N = 45) or who had voluntarily delayed pregnancy (n = 45) and who had achild 5 years old or younger completed the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) and Child Behavior Checklist. Results showed that mothers who were at one time infertile did not report significantly greater adjustment difficulties for themselves or their children than a comparable group of parents who voluntarily delayed pregnancy. The control group did report significantly higher scores on several subscales of the PSI, indicating that they felt more restricted, isolated, and unsupported than the group with a history of infertility. Neither of the groups, however, showed clinically significant scores on either of the dependent measures. The positive implications of the results are discussed.Requests for reprints should be sent to Keith D. Allen, Meyer Rehabilitation Institute,

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confidence: 97%

The Effects of Infertility on Parent--Child Relationships and Adjustment

Allen¹,

Maguire²,

Williams³

et al. 1996

Children's Health Care

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“…Both partners are affected to varying degrees, often regardless of which one is 'at fault' or even if the infertility is unexplained. Many couples undergo a grief reaction akin to that of bereavement, experiencing shock, denial, anger, isolation, guilt and depression in finally coming to terms with infertility (Hirsh and Hirsh, 1989;Wright et ai, 1989;Tarlatzis et ai, 1993).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…The study suggested that counselling would be useful to help couples cope as a team, and with the need to overcome the difficulty that many male partners nonverbally avoided being involved in their study, by being 'too busy' for example. Others describe that couples labelled as 'non-communicators' were at greater risk of marital and general discontent, suggesting that counselling might help overcome this problem (Hirsh and Hirsh, 1989).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ethics and society: Review of the organized support network for infertility patients in licensed units in the UK

et al. 1995

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In acknowledging that 'counselling is generally recognized as beneficial', the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (HFEA) Code of Practice requires that all infertility units provide counselling facilities to be available for patients. In this study, we intended to evaluate the support and counselling services made available by the licensed units in the UK. A questionnaire consisting of 30 questions was designed and sent to every licensed treatment unit in the UK. The data were coded on a nominal scale and, using a data entry program, loaded onto a computer. Using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences program, a non-parametric frequency analysis was performed. Associations were examined with cross-tabulations and chi 2 analysis. A total of 62 units (61.4%) responded to the questionnaire, from both the private and National Health Service sectors. Of these, 95% have their own counsellor, most of whom (84%) practised on the premises. One-third of these counsellors had a dual role, mainly as nurses, social workers or in administration; 98.6% were trained in counselling, with only 28% having either the Certificate or Diploma in Counselling. One-third (32.2%) of centres charged for counselling, with only 13 units indicating their charges. The majority of centres (78.8%) do not actively follow-up patients after counselling and one-quarter (25.5%) did not have a specific counselling room. Over two-thirds (68.4%) of centres described their support network as adequate. The results of this survey suggest that, although the requirements of the HFEA Code of Practice are being adhered to reasonably well, overall patient uptake of counselling is low.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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“…10,11 Infertility is also related to many other important domains of social life, including kinship, inheritance, marriage divorce patterns, economic production, gender relations and notion of the body. [10][11][12] Examining infertility also leads to the discovery of constructed meanings of motherhood, fatherhood and the children themselves, which is a critical area for further research particularly in Botswana where it has been relatively neglected. It is on the basis of this that the study was conducted.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Denying and Preserving Self: Batswana Women's Experiences of Infertility

Mogobe¹

2005

African Journal of Reproductive Health

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This qualitative study was conducted to understand and theoretically explain infertility from the perspective of 40 infertile women and four members of the traditional health care system. Symbolic interaction and feminism were combined to under-gird the study. Through ongoing data collection and analysis, a theoretical framework of denying and preserving self was constructed. Preserving self or self-preservation means developing personal measures aimed at preventing or reducing harm inflicted by others as a result of one's infertility. Contributory factors to denying of self include denial of status as a woman; denial of immortality; denial of experiences of pregnancy, labour and delivery; denial of economic and social security; and the belief that they are being chastised by God and the forefathers. In addition, the women develop strategies to deal with such denials by looking for deeper meaning, working it out, giving in to feelings, getting more involved, getting away, and doing adoption. RÉSUMÉNous avons mené cette étude qualitative afin de comprendre et d'expliquer, de façon théorique, la stérilité à travers la perspective de 40 femmes stériles et quatre membres du système de service de santé traditionnelle. Nous avons combiné l'interaction symbolique et le féminism dans l'étude. A travers la collection des données suivie et l'analyse, nous avons construit un cadre théorique de l'abnégation et de l'instinct de conservation. La préservation de soi ou l'instinct de conservation veut dire le développement des mesures personnelles qui visent la prévention ou la réduction du mal infligé par les autres à cause de la stérilité de soi. Les facteurs qui contribuent à l'abnégation comprennent la négation de sa situation de femme, la négation de l'immoralité, la négation des expériences de grossesse, du travail et de l'accouchement, la négation de la sécurité économique et sociale, et la croyance que c'est le bon Dieu et les ancêtres qui les punissent. De plus, les femmes conçoivent des stratégies pour contenir de telles abnégations tout en recherchant un sens plus profond, en recherchant la solution, en s'abandonnant aux sentiments, en s'impliquant davantage, en quittant et en adoptant un enfant. Les implications de l'étude ont été discutées. (Rev Afr Santé Reprod 2005; 9[2]: 26-37)

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The Effect of Infertility on Marriage and Self‐concept

Cited by 49 publications

References 13 publications

The Effects of Infertility on Parent--Child Relationships and Adjustment

The Effects of Infertility on Parent--Child Relationships and Adjustment

Ethics and society: Review of the organized support network for infertility patients in licensed units in the UK

Denying and Preserving Self: Batswana Women's Experiences of Infertility

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