Treating Faith‐Based Infertile Couples Using Cognitive‐Behavioral Counseling Strategies: A Preliminary Investigation

Abstract

The authors have found no study that addressed the influence of religious practices, biblical texts, and a spiritual environment on the dynamics of coping with crises often experienced by couples who are infertile and who transition into childlessness.Twenty-five couples from the greater New York area who were referred by religious leaders participated in an in-depth interview to share their experiences. This study is a preliminary investigation of the experiences and emotional dynamics of infertile couples. It further illustrates how cognitive-behavioral approaches may be used as possible intervention strategies.pproximately 3.5 million couples in the Unites States experience infertility, commonly defined as the inability to achieve a viable preg-

The Experiences of Childfree and Childless Couples in a Pronatalistic Society

“…There seem to be two consistent themes that emerge from the descriptive research, the empirical studies (Chang & Mu, 2007;Daniluk &Tench, 2007;Peronace, Boivin, & Schmidt, 2007;Schmidt, 2006;Schneider & Forthofer, 2005;Smith & Smith, 2004) and the first-hand web-based comments from infertile families: (a) a commitment to one's intent to become a parent and (b) pervasive family and social support network. Infertile couples are committed to being parents, albeit through one specific means.…”

The Infertility Resilience Model: Assessing Individual, Couple, and External Predictive Factors

“…Religious and spiritual beliefs provide hope and comfort for some (e.g., Phipps 1998), yet may lead to self-doubt and diminished self-esteem in others (Peterson et al 2007a). From a social perspective, Smith and Smith (2004) suggest that infertile couples may experience increased levels of stress and depression when they are actively engaged in religious practices due to the focus and attention given to families with children. Likewise, Berghuis and Stanton (2002) found that less reliance upon religious coping was associated with decreased depressive symptoms.…”

Cultural Dimensions of Early Pregnancy Loss: Spiritual and Religious Issues

“…These individuals may struggle with difficult R/S questions, asking themselves if they are to blame and wondering about or believing that their higher power may have somehow abandoned, judged, punished, or cursed them. Furthermore, in response to learning that a woman or partner has experienced a loss, some people impose their R/S beliefs with suggestions such as "You have an angel in heaven," "Everything happens for a reason," "It's part of ___'s plan," "___ doesn't give us more than we can handle," and "This was a blessing in disguise" (Lamb, 1988, p. 8; see also Seftel & Ilse, 2006). Although comforting for some, comments like these may isolate, alienate, or otherwise exacerbate symptoms in others.…”

“…Some researchers have begun to investigate the cultural dimensions of infertility, including some R/S concerns. For example, Smith and Smith (2004) examined R/S issues in treating infertile couples, and Burnett (2009) provided an overview of cultural considerations for counselors working with couples who have experienced infertility. Whereas Burnett primarily focused on differences among broader cultural groups, noting a few R/S issues such as biblical messages in dominant culture, Smith and Smith delved deeper into the R/S concerns of 25 couples struggling with infertility.…”

“…Although they did not report the participants' R/S identities or affiliations, the focus on biblical passages may indicate that participants identified as Christian in some way. In both articles, the researchers included pregnancy loss, the inability “to carry a pregnancy to live birth” (Burnett, 2009, p. 167; Smith & Smith, 2004, p. 49), in the definition of infertility. Still, the foci of both articles were on not having a child , and neither the term “early pregnancy loss” nor “miscarriage” appeared in the body of either article.…”