Romantic attachment, infertility-related stress, and positive body image of women dealing with infertility

Abstract

IntroductionInfertility is a condition that can affect the physical, emotional, social, and relational well-being of women. Women’s bodies seem to assume a crucial relevance as part of the experience of infertility and its treatments. An extended body of literature supports the role of romantic attachment orientations in facing infertility-related stress. However, the association between romantic attachment orientations, infertility-related stress, and women’s body image has not been explored.MethodsThis cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the role of romantic attachment and infertility-related stress concerning positive body image in 113 women dealing with infertility. Data were analyzed with correlation and mediation path analyses.ResultsResults showed that high levels of attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, and infertility-related stress were negatively associated with positive body image. Path analyses indicated that positive body image may be directly associated with romantic attachment anxiety. The negative association of attachment avoidance with body image appeared to be mediated by infertility-related stress.Discussion:Findings suggest that romantic attachment insecurities and infertility-related stress are significantly associated with a worsened body image in infertile women. Implications for future research are discussed.

Eudaimonic Well-Being of Italian Young Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Psychological Inflexibility and Fear of Death

“…Lastly, following a life cycle perspective of emotion regulation [89], it will be useful to extend the focus to previous developmental ages, such as adolescence, and also consider how young adults turn to others to be helped or to help others in managing challenging emotions and fears. Indeed, the field of study concerning interpersonal emotion regulation is currently growing in importance [90] and can add new intriguing perspectives to the knowledge of how young adults regulate their emotions in challenging periods like the pandemic.…”

Eudaimonic Well-Being of Italian Young Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Predictive and Mediating Roles of Fear of Death and Psychological Inflexibility

“…Lastly, following a life cycle perspective of emotion regulation [101], it will be useful to extend the focus to previous developmental ages, such as adolescence, and also consider how young adults turn to others to be helped or to help others in managing challenging emotions and fears. Indeed, the field of study concerning interpersonal emotion regulation is currently growing in importance [102] and can add new intriguing perspectives to the knowledge of how young adults regulate their emotions in challenging periods like the pandemic.…”

Breaking the Silence: Psychological Stress-Related Factors in Immature Marriages

“…Early marriages may be seen by families struggling to make ends meet as a way of avoiding economic stressors and hence, young girls are placed at the center of complex financial decisions. This stress, however, does not only come from economic hardships but because of being laden with adult responsibilities at age where psychological readiness is absent (Calvo, Fusco, Pellicelli, & Masaro, 2023). Persistent problem of gender injustice increases psychological pressure resulting from early marriage.…”