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International Journal of Behavioral Medicine

Erschienen in:

15.11.2017

Infertility Centrality in the Woman’s Identity and Goal Adjustment Predict Psychological Adjustment Among Women in Ongoing Fertility Treatments

verfasst von: Efrat Neter, Shira Goren

Erschienen in: International Journal of Behavioral Medicine | Ausgabe 6/2017

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Abstract

Purpose

Some of the women that go through repeated fertility treatments will not adjust well to the treatments and will experience increased distress. The present study examined how centrality of the fertility problem in the woman’s identity and dispositional goal adjustment (disengagement and reengagement) are associated with the woman’s psychological adjustment. These issues are examined in a context of a pro-natal society (Israel) where parenthood is a major life goal.

Methods

One hundred ninety-three women in ongoing fertility treatments filled out questionnaires, and follow-up on their psychological well-being was carried out after 3 months (N = 130).

Results

Women who perceived their fertility problem as more central to their identity experienced greater distress (β = 0.34, p < 0.01) and less well-being (β = − 0.31, p < 0.01). Concurrently, high ability for goal disengagement was a resource that protected women from these feelings. Women high on goal disengagement who were low on goal reengagement experienced greater distress (β of interaction = − 0.24, p < 0.01), probably because they remained with feelings of emptiness and lack of purpose. These findings were found in both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. Finally, the models predicting well-being and distress at T2 using centrality, goal adjustment, and T1 well-being/distress explained 42 and 47.5% of the variance, respectively.

Conclusions

Much research and therapeutic attention has been invested in coping with fertility treatments, while the options of reducing investment in treatments and finding alternative goals did not receive adequate attention. This study discusses these issues and their possible clinical implications especially in a pro-natal context.

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Titel: Infertility Centrality in the Woman’s Identity and Goal Adjustment Predict Psychological Adjustment Among Women in Ongoing Fertility Treatments
verfasst von: Efrat Neter
Shira Goren
Publikationsdatum: 15.11.2017
Verlag: Springer US
Erschienen in: International Journal of Behavioral Medicine / Ausgabe 6/2017
Print ISSN: 1070-5503
Elektronische ISSN: 1532-7558
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-017-9693-9

Springer Medizin

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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