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Infertility pp 133–156Cite as

Perceived Control and Adjustment to Infertility among Women Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization

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Part of the book series: The Springer Series on Stress and Coping ((SSSO))

Abstract

Infertility is, by definition, a loss of control over one’s reproductive ability. Yet very little systematic empirical research has examined how the objective facts of infertility translate into subjective experiences of personal control. On the one hand, infertile individuals are poignantly aware of their inability to control reproduction, and this perceived lack of control might increase the psychological distress of infertility. On the other hand, infertile individuals may differ widely in how they interpret their unsuccessful efforts to conceive. Some may emphasize the available options for enhancing the probability of becoming pregnant, rather than focusing on their past failure to conceive. Particularly for those who persist in efforts to conceive, the belief that personal efforts make a difference may be essential.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, 90024-1563, USA

    Susan Miller Campbell, Christine Dunkel-Schetter & Letitia Anne Peplau

Authors
  1. Susan Miller Campbell
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  2. Christine Dunkel-Schetter
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  3. Letitia Anne Peplau
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA

    Annette L. Stanton

  2. University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA

    Christine Dunkel-Schetter

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© 1991 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Campbell, S.M., Dunkel-Schetter, C., Peplau, L.A. (1991). Perceived Control and Adjustment to Infertility among Women Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization. In: Stanton, A.L., Dunkel-Schetter, C. (eds) Infertility. The Springer Series on Stress and Coping. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0753-0_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0753-0_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-0755-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-0753-0

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