Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-13-2022

Abstract

This qualitative research study aimed to examine aspects of posttraumatic growth (PTG) in women with a long-standing experience of involuntary childlessness. In-depth semi-structured interviews, lasting an average of 53 min, were conducted in the Czech Republic. Twenty-four women, averaging 38.8 years old with an average of 6.2 years of infertility experience, participated. They were asked how involuntary childlessness affected/changed their partnerships, sexual life, job, future plans, attitude to children/values/faith, and leisure time. Participants shared both positive and negative aspects of the infertility experience. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Five main themes of PTG were identified: strengthening of partnership, greater humility, deeper self-appreciation, reassessment of relationships, and changes in the philosophy of life. These findings could be useful to mental health providers to facilitate the PTG process in patients.

Comments

This is a pre-copy-editing, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in Journal of Humanistic Psychology in 2022 following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available online at https://doi.org/10.1177/00221678211068291.

Peer Reviewed

1

Copyright

The authors

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