The Contribution of Couple’s Attachment Style to the Adjustment to Infertility

Besharat, Mohammad Ali

The Contribution of Couple’s Attachment Style to the Adjustment to Infertility

Vol. 2, Issue 1, / January-March 2001
(Review Article, pages 17-25)

Mohammad Ali Besharat: - Psychology Department, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran

Received: 11/16/2000 Accepted: 1/18/2001 - Publisher : Avicenna Research Institute

Other Format

Abstract

As a major life crisis, infertility is a very stressful and distressing experience leading to psychological maladjustments and disorders. To examine the contribution of attachment style to the adjustment to infertility, 46 married couples (N=92) undergoing infertility evaluation and treatment were included in this study. All 92 subjects completed the Aduit Attachment Inventory, the Mental Health Inventory and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale. Secure attachment style was shown to be significantly related to psychological adjustment to infertility. Secure persons reported more psychological well-being, less psychological distress and more dyadic adjustment than insecure persons. Partners of secure persons also reported higher levels of well-being and dyadic adjustment and lower levels of disterss than partners of insecure persons. Results and implications are discussed in terms of attachment theory.

Keywords: Attachment, Infertility, Dyadic Adjustment, Mental health

To cite this article:

Besharat MA. The Contribution of Couple’s Attachment Style to the Adjustment to Infertility. J Reprod Infertil. 2001;2(1):17-25.

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