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UBC Theses and Dissertations
How two couples adopt to biological childlessness and reconstruct their lives once fertility is no longer a viable option Bockus, Diana
Abstract
The present longitudinal study explores how two Caucasian, heterosexual couples experiencing 'unexplained infertility' adapted to biological childlessness after fertility treatment was no longer a viable option. Previous literature on infertile couples' process of adaptation post treatment focused on those who succeeded in having a genetic child. In this study each couple pursued an alternative life path to biological parenthood by either becoming adoptive parents or by choosing nonparenthood. Their respective journeys were documented in a succession of four unstructured, ih-depth audio taped interviews at 10-month intervals over a period of 3.5-years. The findings show that both couples, although they pursued variant life paths, evolved from a negative perception and experience of life without biological children to having a positively lived life as a biologically childless couples. The adaptation process involved a complex and intense interconnected series of events and experiences associated with three phases. Letting Go of the Biological Parenthood Quest, Recovery and Discovering Life Options, and Making and Living a New Life Path. The following aspects were linked to these adaptation phases and enabled couples to construct a new life without biological parenthood: grieving their losses associated with infertility and their genetic child; acceptance of biological childlessness; personal growth experiences; seeking and achieving balance personally and in their daily life as a couple; and envisioning, establishing and living their new life path.
Item Metadata
| Title |
How two couples adopt to biological childlessness and reconstruct their lives once fertility is no longer a viable option
|
| Creator | |
| Publisher |
University of British Columbia
|
| Date Issued |
1997
|
| Description |
The present longitudinal study explores how two Caucasian, heterosexual
couples experiencing 'unexplained infertility' adapted to biological childlessness
after fertility treatment was no longer a viable option. Previous literature on infertile
couples' process of adaptation post treatment focused on those who succeeded in
having a genetic child. In this study each couple pursued an alternative life path to
biological parenthood by either becoming adoptive parents or by choosing nonparenthood.
Their respective journeys were documented in a succession of four
unstructured, ih-depth audio taped interviews at 10-month intervals over a period
of 3.5-years. The findings show that both couples, although they pursued variant
life paths, evolved from a negative perception and experience of life without
biological children to having a positively lived life as a biologically childless couples.
The adaptation process involved a complex and intense interconnected series of
events and experiences associated with three phases. Letting Go of the Biological
Parenthood Quest, Recovery and Discovering Life Options, and Making and Living
a New Life Path. The following aspects were linked to these adaptation phases and
enabled couples to construct a new life without biological parenthood: grieving
their losses associated with infertility and their genetic child; acceptance of
biological childlessness; personal growth experiences; seeking and achieving
balance personally and in their daily life as a couple; and envisioning, establishing
and living their new life path.
|
| Extent |
5415963 bytes
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| Genre | |
| Type | |
| File Format |
application/pdf
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| Language |
eng
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| Date Available |
2009-03-11
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| Provider |
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
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| Rights |
For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.
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| DOI |
10.14288/1.0054021
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| URI | |
| Degree | |
| Program | |
| Affiliation | |
| Degree Grantor |
University of British Columbia
|
| Graduation Date |
1997-05
|
| Campus | |
| Scholarly Level |
Graduate
|
| Aggregated Source Repository |
DSpace
|
Item Media
Item Citations and Data
Rights
For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.