title: The psychological well-being of infertile women after a failed IVF attempt: the effects of coping.
abstract: One hundred infertile women and 73 female controls completed three measures of psychological well-being (depression, self-esteem and self-confidence) on two occasions (Times 1 and 2), coinciding with the beginning and end of a failed IVF attempt by the infertile women. At Time 2, the IVF women were also asked to indicate whether they had used a number of different coping responses, in relation to dealing with their failed IVF attempt. As predicted, IVF women were more depressed and had lower self-esteem than controls prior to the treatment cycle, and both before and after the treatment cycle they were less self-confident. After the failed IVF procedure, IVF women were more depressed and had lower levels of self-esteem than they did prior to the treatment cycle. In terms of the effects of coping on the post-attempt well-being of the IVF women, the use of problem-focused coping was associated with high levels of well-being, while the use of avoidance coping and seeking social support was associated with low levels of well-being.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Hynes
authors.forename: V J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Callan
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Terry
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gallois
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000523:psychology*; D011340:Problem Solving; D012649:Self Concept; D012944:Social Support