Fertility practitioners’ experience of the psychological sequelae of unmet parental goals after unsuccessful fertility treatment: A Delphi Consensus Study

Moore, Siobhan E. 2018. Fertility practitioners’ experience of the psychological sequelae of unmet parental goals after unsuccessful fertility treatment: A Delphi Consensus Study. ClinPsy Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

This thesis investigates the adjustment processes to involuntary childlessness and the psychological distress associated with unmet parental goals. Paper one reports a systematic review of quantitative studies looking at how trauma theory informs the clinical understanding of adjustment to involuntary childlessness. This yielded eight studies which were reviewed and rated using a quality appraisal tool. The data extracted, focused on the prevalence of trauma and post traumatic growth to infertility. No studies included, focused their research on cohorts of women who identified as being involuntarily childless through delayed childbearing or circumstantial reasons. The findings suggested that for women who are, infertile, who had accessed or were accessing fertility treatment and were childless, trauma theory can aid clinical understanding of both their experience of infertility distress and adjustment to involuntary childlessness. Paper two describes a three round, online Delphi Study which investigated, infertility practitioners’ clinical experience of psychological distress associated with unmet parental goals, following unsuccessful fertility treatment. Nine practitioners, from five countries participated, rating 58 statements on the presentation and nature of distress observed in the post treatment phase. Infertility practitioners perceived distress to be associated with statements concerned with individual’s identity and relinquishing the desire for biological children. The fertility practitioners agreed that the core element of therapy was to facilitate meaning making, acceptance and pursuit of new life goals. Paper three provides a critical account of the strengths and limitations of both the systematic review and empirical paper. The theoretical and clinical implications of the research included addressing pertinent issues, which arose during the research process. Finally, the competencies developed from conducting this research will be described in relation to becoming a clinical psychologist.

Item Type:	Thesis (DClinPsy)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Psychology
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	26 September 2018
Last Modified:	04 Aug 2022 01:55
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/115247

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