The Role of Infertility in Marital Dissolution
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
- To find out the association between the experience of infertility and stigmatization.
- To find out the association between the experience of infertility and frequency of quarrels.
- To find out the association between the experience of infertility and quality of relationship with spousal family.
- To find out the association between the experience of infertility and willingness to quit marriage.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Conceptual Review Family Systems Theory
Overview of family systems theory
Family systems theory developed as a branch of Ludwig von Bertalanffy‟s general systems theory (Von Bertalanffy, 1968). In order to fully understand family systems theory, a basic grasp of general systems theory is needed. General systems theory challenged the mechanistic theories that were predominant in the mid-twentieth century, arguing instead that organisms are complex, interactive, and organised (Von Bertalanffy, 1968). A general systems perspective focuses on and investigates the manner in which underlying components of a system interact with one another in order to form a whole. A systems perspective does not merely focus on separate parts, but on how all the separate parts are connected, interdependent and interrelated. From a systems perspective, one will examine how any fluctuation in one part of the system can affect other components of the system, which, in turn, can affect the initial component. General systems theory thus suggests that a holistic view is necessary to fully understand all the dynamics involved in any situation (Von Bertalanffy, 1968). A system is defined as a set of objects with relationships between the objects and between the attributes of the objects (Hall & Fagan, in Barker, 2007). Almost any assembly of different parts will meet these criteria, therefore a more complex description was needed for a living system such as a cell or individual organism.
Bertalanffy‟s general systems perspective provides a suitable alternative. In recent years, the general conclusion has been made that the family is “… an example of an open, ongoing, goal-seeking, self-regulating social system and that it shares the features of all such systems” (Broderick, 1993, p. 37). In addition, specific characteristics, such as a family‟s structuring of gender and generation, differentiate if from other social systems. Also, each individual family is moulded by its own specific and unique characteristics (e.g. size, life stage, complexity), the psychobiological characteristics of the individual family members (e.g. gender, age, health, fertility, temperament), and the family‟s socio-cultural position in the larger society (Broderick, 1993). To summarize, a comprehensive definition of the family systems theoretical framework proposes that the “… individual behaviors of men and women are best understood in the context of their mutual interactions and systemic relationships” (Peterson et al., 2006).
Central premises of family systems theory
The central premises of family systems theory will be discussed in this section, specifically the organization and dynamic nature of the family system. Relevant terms related to each central premise will also be clarified.
Organization of family systems (i) Holism
Family systems theory is built upon the premise that, in order to master daily challenges and tasks of life and to adjust to the needs of its separate members, family systems organize Themselves accordingly (Broderick, 1993). The concept of holism underlies this premise of organisation. Thus, from a family systems perspective one will focus on the family as a whole, and not merely on the separate parts or individual family members. As Aristotle and others have noted, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts and has qualities that cannot be deduced from the combined characteristics of each part . Jackson (1965, p. 5) suggests that measures are needed that “…do not simply sum up individuals into a family unit; we need to measure the characteristics of the supraindividual family unit”. Family systems theory thus recognises that the family system is the result of all individual members together, and that the interaction and communication between all individual members should be studied in order to understand the system as a whole (Broderick, 1993).
Chapter Three
Research Methodology
Introduction
This chapter will cover the research methodology employed in the study and will explain the steps that have been conducted in the field which include: an overview of the research design; study population; the identification of participants and the demographic characteristics of the sample; an elaboration of the measuring instruments; pilot study; response rate; eligibility criteria; a description of the procedures for data collection; ethical considerations; ethical consideration; and limitation of the study; and, finally, the methods of data analysis.
Research design
The design of this study is a quantitative, cross sectional descriptive study for the Egor couples undergoing infertility treatment between the first of October to the first of December .
Cross sectional study is study in which a statistically significant sample of a population is used to estimate the relationship between an outcome of interest and population variables as they exist at one particular time. Since both the outcome and the variables are measured at the one time. (medical-dictionary, 2011)
Chapter Five
Conclusion and Recommendations
Conclusion
Results of the analyses completed on the study participants (N = 129 infertile male and female) yielded the following results: there is a significant increase in the level of infertility-related stress and most of the sample 93.0 % experience very high stress, furthermore, all male participants suffer from very high stress, while, 91.3% of female participants suffers from very high. There is a positive, and significant relationship between the mean of duration of infertility and relationship concerns, the Couples with University level of education have significantly less sexual concerns than did the couples with Secondary level of education, the Couples with Secondary level of education has significantly more sexual concerns than did the couples with High level of education, high level of education has the highest usage of problem solving styles, high level of education can use Reinterpretation or Positive reappraisal (reframing a situation to see it in a positive light); more than other levels, Higher level of education use Accountability more than other which is due to their full understanding of the current situation.
The secondary type of infertility has accountability more than primary infertility, the nuclear family use problem solving, and reinterpretation, more than extended family, the greater the fertility related stress, the less infertile couples using self control, the greater the need for parenting, more infertile couples using wish and avoidance, the greater the need for parenting, more infertile couples using problem solving; the greater the need for parenting, more infertile couples using reinterpritation, the greater the need for parenting, more infertile couples using affiliation, the greater the need for parenting, more infertile couples using accountability, the greater the rejection of lifestyle, the less infertile couples using self control, the greater the sexual concern, the less infertile couples using self control, the greater the sexual concern, more infertile couples using escape and truble, the greater the fertility related stress, more infertile couples using escape and truble, and finally, the greater the number of treating doctors, more couples fertility related stress
The current study found no significant differences in sex, work, type of infertility related to fertility related stress, and psychological counseling.
Recommendation
This studies that examine the infertile stress and coping processes of men and women would be of great value. These studies could help reveal the complex processes of coping with infertility and could shed additional light on the couple groupings that reported positive outcomes
The researcher recommends the following to alleviate their suffer and improve their well-being:
- Awareness programs could be developed to educate medical professionals about the importance of their role in the experience of infertility for the couple.
- Physicians who are able to identify couples who may be at risk for problems with their marital adjustment could then make appropriate referrals to mental or social workers.
- Inclusion of the mental health in the reproductive Clinics and concurrent therapy may increase the chance of getting pregnant.
- Developing a health insurance that imply the treatment of clients suffer from such issue.
- Increase the awareness of the general population about the benefits of the social support and how to deal with such people to prevent further complication for their situation.
- Develop a support groups for the infertile couples and group therapy to minimize their suffer and promote their health condition.
Future research could include:
- Longitudinal studies that track changes in infertile couples‟ coping strategies over time. Longitudinal studies could more fully explore Lazarus and Folkman‟s hypothesis that stress and coping are situation specific. Coping strategies that appear ineffective at the early stages of treatment may prove to be effective given a new set of circumstances.
- Cross-sectional designs that replicate this study using infertile populations not pursuing treatment or who recently completed treatments would be valuable. This would allow researchers to more fully understand the relationship between coping and infertility stress, marital adjustment and depression across the various phases of the infertility experience.
- Studying the effects of larger systems on the couple experiencing infertility may be another beneficial area for future research.
- Looking at the impact of extended family and other larger social support networks, organizational influences such as Masged, religion, and school, and the larger communities attitudes towards infertility may lead to important knowledge about how these larger systems, and the couple’s relationship to these larger systems, effect marital adjustment for couples.
- Other studies looking at the effect of therapeutic interventions on couples who exhibited the risk factors identified in this study and received treatment would provide a wealth of information about the most beneficial interventions for these couples.
- Another interesting avenue for future research might be to examine physicians, nurses and other medical personnel who have contact with couples presenting for infertility treatment in regard to their attitudes and behaviors toward these couples.
- studying the impact and influence of medical professionals on the couple experiencing infertility could be very informative. Physicians specializing in infertility treatment are especially important individuals in the couples lives as they face infertility. These physicians may often be the primary confidants of the couples with regard to their physical and emotional state
- A study examining the awareness level and attributions of infertility specialists regarding the emotional factors and risks to marital adjustment for these couples may lead to important new information about ways that these medical professionals can better interact with couples seeking infertility treatment.
References
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