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Representations of reproductive difficulties in women participating in support groups

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2022

E. Bityutskaya
Affiliation:
Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty Of Psychology, Moscow, Russian Federation
E. Vorontsova
Affiliation:
Non-profit organization for women with reproductive issues «You are not alone», Research Department, Moscow, Russian Federation
N. Lebedeva*
Affiliation:
Moscow Metropolitan Governance University, Diagnostics Department, Moscow, Russian Federation
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

Women with reproductive difficulties often feel stigmatized and isolated. Information concerning their specific experience can help plan psychosocial interventions.

Objectives

The study aims to analyze reproductive difficulties representations in women with different coping orientations.

Methods

Participants: 48 women (aged 24-43) from support groups arranged by the “You Are Not Alone” non-profit organization for women with reproductive issues. Based on the questionnaire “Types of Orientations in Difficult Situation”, participants were divided into three groups: approach coping (N=16), avoidance coping (N=9), ambivalent coping (N=23). Content analysis was conducted based on stories about reproduction difficulties experiences.

Results

Table 1

Groups
CategoriesApproach copingAmbivalent copingAvoidance coping
1.Emotions
Negative emotions31%43%
Hope31%
Mobilization to solve the problem48%
Severe emotional state9%67%
No emotion38%33%
2.Goals
Birth of a child81%61%44%
Acceptance/inner harmony13%26%
Understanding the cause of difficulties7%13%
Maintaining the integrity of the body56%
3.Worst-case scenario
No child56%70%33%
Illness/depression/insanity13%44%
Own death13%4%22%
Denial of the possibility of the worst-case scenario19%9%
4.Best-case scenario
Having a child100%91%67%
Accepting infertility6%
Improving own health33%
Objective indicator: perinatal losses6%27%14%

Conclusions

We identified three types of representation of reproductive difficulties in women: approaching the goal of having a child; avoidance (fear of own death/illness/insanity or not having a child); ambivalent coping (alternating approach/avoidance). Funding: The study was funded by RFBR, project number 20-013-00838.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Type
Abstract
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the European Psychiatric Association
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