Maternal self-esteem after successful treatment for infertility.
OBJECTIVE
To [1] investigate self-esteem during pregnancy after previous infertility and [2] establish the relationship among self-esteem, anxiety during pregnancy, and parenting self-efficacy.


METHODS
Limited prospective study.


METHODS
A regional infertility clinic and antenatal clinic.


METHODS
Seventy women who had conceived through assisted reproductive technology and 111 women who had conceived naturally.


METHODS
Measures of self-esteem, anxiety, and parenting self-efficacy.


METHODS
Self-esteem, anxiety, and parenting self-efficacy.


RESULTS
Women who had conceived through IVF treatment did not differ in terms of self-esteem during pregnancy from those who had conceived naturally. All of the women in the present study displayed levels of self-esteem that were within the normal range. Self-esteem increased as pregnancy progressed. Self-esteem was negatively correlated with anxiety during pregnancy. As self-esteem increased, anxiety decreased. Self-esteem at the start of pregnancy (18 weeks) and anxiety in the early stages of parenthood (6 weeks postpartum) predicted parenting self-efficacy.


CONCLUSIONS
Self-esteem in the early stages of pregnancy, for both women who conceived through IVF and women who conceived naturally, is related to self-reported levels of parenting efficacy. Coaching and mentoring through antenatal clinics in the early stages of pregnancy should be tailored to incorporate advice regarding self-esteem in addition to management of pregnancy and psychological well-being.
Cox
Sara Jane
SJ
Institute of Work, Health and Organisations, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom. sara.cox@nottingham.ac.uk
Glazebrook
Cris
C
Sheard
Charlotte
C
Ndukwe
George
G
Oates
Margaret
M
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000523:psychology*; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012649:Self Concept; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires