Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The psychological reactions to infertility: Sex roles and coping styles

  • Published:
Sex Roles Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if sex roles would predict the extent to which people experience problems in coping with infertility. Based on questionnaire responses of 164 medical patients, it was found that patients scoring higher in masculinity or androgyny reported fewer problems in coping with infertility, as measured by self-esteem and body image. It was also found that groups of infertile, formerly infertile, and fertile patients were no different in levels of coping. It was suggested that physicians might be able to identify patients at risk for poorer coping with infertility by screening new referrals for self-esteem and historical-background variables.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allison, J. R. Roles and role conflict of women in infertile couples. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 1979, 4, 97.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carr, G. D. A psychosociological study of fertile and infertile marriages, Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Los Angeles: University of Southern California, 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, S. L. Female infertility: Its effect on self-esteem, body image, locus of control, and behavior, Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Boston: Boston University School of Education, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunne, D. E. Psychological factors relating to infertility of couples and the implications for counseling and psychotherapy, Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Los Angeles: University of Southern California, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelley, K. Sterility in the female with special reference to psychic factors. Psychosomatic Medicine, 1942, 4, 211.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, J. A., & Worell, J. New formulations of sex roles and androgyny: A critical review. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1977, 45, 1101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Langner, T. S. A twenty-two item screening score of psychiatric symptoms indicating impairment. Journal of Health and Human Behavior, 1962, 3, 269.

    Google Scholar 

  • Locke, H., & Wallace, K. Short marital adjustment and prediction tests: Their reliability and validity. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1959, 21, 251.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCurdy, P.C.K. Sex role, decision-making practices, marital satisfaction and family problems with economically disadvantaged Anglo, Black, and Chicano couples, unpublished doctoral dissertation. Kansas City: University of Missouri, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pettus, J. P. Psychological androgyny: Construct validation and relationship to mental health and sex stereotypes, Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Missoula: University of Montana, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  • Platt, J. J., Ficher, I., & Silver, M. J. Infertile couples: Personality traits and self-ideal concept discrepancies. Fertility and Sterility, 1973, 24, 972.

    Google Scholar 

  • Recely, N.L.C. Level of self-esteem and conformity to sex-role stereotypes, Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Boulder: University of Colorado, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg, M. Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  • Secord, P., & Jourard, S., The appraisal of body cathexis; body cathexis and the self. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 1953, 17, 343.

    Google Scholar 

  • Speer, V. J. Relationship of masculinity-femininity to self-concept, adjustment, body-cathexis and achievement in vocational high school students, Unpublished doctoral dissertation. St. John's University, 1969.

  • Spence, J. T., & Helmreich, R. L. Masculinity and femininity: Their psychological dimensions, correlates, and antecedents. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tallichet, E. M. Differential influence of sex-role identity on achievement, Unpublished doctoral dissertation. St. Louis: George Washington University, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wetter, R. E. Levels of self-esteem associated with four sex role categories. In masculine, feminine, androgynous or none of the above? Chaired by R. Bedhar. Symposium presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, Chicago, August 1975.

  • Wish, C. W. The relationship of sex role typing to satisfaction in older persons, Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Columbus: Ohio State University, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Skamania County Counseling Center, P.O. Box 790, 98648, Stevenson, Washington

    John D. Adler

  2. Los Angeles, California

    Russell L. Boxley

Authors
  1. John D. Adler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Russell L. Boxley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Adler, J.D., Boxley, R.L. The psychological reactions to infertility: Sex roles and coping styles. Sex Roles 12, 271–279 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00287593

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00287593

Keywords

Search

Navigation