Positive affect mediates the relationships between resilience, social support and posttraumatic growth of women with infertility

This study aims to explore the relationship between resilience, social support, positive affect and posttraumatic growth among Chinese women with infertility, and to examine the mediating role of positive affect. A convenience sample of 1733 women diagnosed with infertility was recruited from the infertility outpatient clinics at three reproductive hospitals in Shandong Province of China between May 2015 and April 2016. They completed a background questionnaire, the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, the Perceived Social Support Questionnaire, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. Individuals reported high levels of PTG (M=64.81; SD=16.20). Perceived social support (beta=.11, p<.001), resilience (beta=.18, p<.001) and positive affect (beta=.46, p<.001) were related to PTG. Positive affect may play a mediating role in the relationships between resilience (.125, .201, p<.001), social support (.055, .121, p<.001) and PTG. This study examines the effects of resilience, social support, and positive affect on PTG among Chinese infertile women. Wherein, positive affect may play a mediating role in the relationships between resilience, social support and PTG.