title: Psychological profile of women with infertility: A comparative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An endeavour to probe into the psychological profile of infertile women in a comparative stance with the fertile women is not very common. This study is an attempt to explore the possible non-apparent personality factors which contribute to the unexplained pain of infertility.
  
  
  METHODS
  The main objectives of the present study were (a) to examine whether infertile women are different from fertile women in terms of selected psychological variables- narcissistic components, dimensions of attachment style and uses of defensive manoeuvres; and (b) whether the primary infertile women (n=18) are different from the secondary infertile women (n=12) with respect to those variables. A total of 60 individuals (30 infertile women and 30 matched fertile women) were assessed through Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ), Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI) and Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ-40). General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) was administered on to the fertile women to rule out the psychiatric morbidity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Findings revealed that infertile women group differed from fertile women group with respect to narcissism, dimensions of attachment style and uses of defense mechanism. The primary infertile group also showed marked difference from the secondary infertile group with respect to those variables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study endeavours to enrich the knowledge regarding the personality dynamics of infertile women to design psychotherapeutic programme to aid their well-being, help them to cherish the flavour of parenthood and improve their quality of life.
authors: Department of Clinical Psychology, Central Institute of Psychiatry, Kanke, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India.
authors: Shuvabrata
authors: S
authors: Poddar
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
authors: Nilanjana
authors: N
authors: Sanyal
authors: Department of Applied Psychology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
authors: Urbi
authors: U
authors: Mukherjee
keywords: Attachment style; defensive manoeuvres; infertility; narcissistic components