Wilkinson, Sharon L. (2012) Psychological Correlates of Infertility Status: Distress, Coping, Cognitive Distortions and Quality of Life. Doctorate (other than PhD) thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
In Australia, infertility affects one in six couples from physiological origins linked to either male, female or both genders. Though the physical aetiology may be linked to one or both partners, the psychological effects of infertility can be experienced by both the fertile and infertile partner. This research explored differences among infertility status groups on measures of psychological distress, coping, cognitive distortions and fertility quality-of-life factors. Two related studies were undertaken, both using data obtained from couples with a known infertility diagnosis voluntarily seeking support. Study 1 used archival data from 35 mixed-gender infertile couples. Study 2 obtained data from 137 women (mean age = 34.5 years) recruited via a web-based forum dedicated to supporting individuals with infertility. Both studies included a measure of psychological distress, with Study 2 adding measures of coping, cognitive distortions, and fertility quality-of-life. Notably for both studies, sample means were greater than population means for psychological distress scores. Study 1 found no significant differences in psychological distress among infertility status groups. Study 2 found no significant differences among infertility status groups for psychological distress, coping strategies, cognitive distortions and fertility quality-of-life measures. The overall psychological and psychosocial experience of infertility did not differ significantly among infertility status groups. These findings suggest that the emotional experience of infertility is shared between partners irrespective of who in the relationship has the infertility diagnosis.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Doctorate (other than PhD)) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Sciences - Department of Psychology (Up to 30 Jun 2013) |
| Supervisors: | Peter Terry |
| Qualification: | Doctor of Psychology (Clinical) |
| Date Deposited: | 14 Oct 2025 01:46 |
| Last Modified: | 14 Oct 2025 01:46 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | infertile partner ; infertile couples ; psychological effects of infertility ; psychosocial experience of infertility |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52887 |
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