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Cognitive appraisal and adjustment to infertility
A L Stanton1, H Tennen, G Affleck
1Department of Psychology, University of Kansas, Lawrence 66045-2160.
Women & Health
|January 1, 1991
Summary
Adults perceive infertility as both harmful and beneficial, yet uncontrollable. Women
Area of Science:
- Reproductive medicine
- Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Infertility affects millions globally, impacting mental well-being.
- Cognitive appraisals are crucial in understanding psychological responses to stressful life events.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine cognitive appraisals of infertility in adults.
- To investigate the relationships between appraisals (threat, challenge, control) and psychological adjustment.
- To explore gender differences in appraisals and distress.
Main Methods:
- Two samples of adults (76 women, 54 men) participated.
- Participants rated appraisals of threat, challenge, and control related to infertility.
- Measures of global and infertility-specific distress were administered.
Main Results:
- Couples viewed infertility as harmful, beneficial, and uncontrollable.
- Women reported higher infertility-specific distress than men.
- For women, higher threat, lower challenge, and lower control appraisals correlated with greater distress.
- Men's appraisals were unrelated to their distress, but their distress decreased if their wives perceived infertility as challenging.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive appraisals significantly influence psychological adjustment to infertility, particularly for women.
- Interventions could focus on reframing infertility appraisals to improve coping.
- Understanding couple dynamics in appraisal is important for supporting psychological well-being.