Perceptions of the COVID-19 Pandemic among Women with Infertility: Correlations with Dispositional Optimism.
Int J Environ Res Public Health
; 19(5)2022 Feb 23.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1707235
ABSTRACT
People who are more optimistic may experience better psychological health during stressful times. The present study examined the perceptions and emotions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic among American women who were experiencing fertility problems. We tested if dispositional optimism in these women was associated with less negative perceptions and emotions. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of patients from a single private infertility and reproductive clinic in an urban area in the Midwest, United States. Women, age 18 or older, primarily White and educated, who presented for an appointment to the clinic were invited to participate in an email-based survey. Respondents (N = 304) reported their perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on fertility treatment, emotions associated with this impact, and perceived stress and depressive symptoms. They also completed measures of dispositional optimism and expectations for a future pregnancy. Findings indicated that women perceived an overall negative impact of the pandemic on their treatment plans, which was associated with more negative emotions, lower expectations of future pregnancy, and greater stress and depressive symptoms during the pandemic. However, further correlational analyses revealed that being higher in trait optimism was associated with perceiving a less negative impact of the pandemic, experiencing fewer negative emotions, and less overall stress and depressive symptoms. Although women with fertility problems have perceived the pandemic as negative and disruptive, those who are higher in optimism may be less affected.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
COVID-19
/
Infertility
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Qualitative research
/
Randomized controlled trials
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Pregnancy
Country/Region as subject:
North America
Language:
English
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Ijerph19052577
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