Subjective well-being of women at the beginning of fertility treatment: the role of medical variables, attachment orientation and supportive relationship with the mother

Objective: To examine the unique and combined contribution of medical aspects and personal and external resources to three major indicators of Subjective Well-Being (SWB): life satisfaction, positive affect and negative affect. Background: Infertility is a stressful condition that requires women to cope with both medical and psychological challenges. Lack of personal and interpersonal resources that may facilitate adjustment to infertility places women in a vulnerable position. Methods: 177 Israeli women on their initial visits to a fertility clinic, completed self-report questionnaires. Medical information was provided by the fertility specialist. Results: Better physical health was associated with greater life satisfaction, more positive emotions and less negative emotions; women with a diagnosis of secondary infertility who did not have previous children were characterised by lower life satisfaction; higher anxious attachment orientation was associated with less life satisfaction and more negative emotions; and a more supportive interaction with the mother was associated with a higher level of positive emotions. Conclusions: The study highlights the need to design interventions for women, that are directed towards the enhancement of both life satisfaction and positive emotions, and indicates that one way to achieve this goal is by promoting a supportive relationship with the mother.