Psychological trait and state characteristics, social support and attitudes to the surrogate pregnancy and baby

Article


van den Akker, O. 2007. Psychological trait and state characteristics, social support and attitudes to the surrogate pregnancy and baby. Human Reproduction. 22 (8), pp. 2287-2295. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dem155
TypeArticle
TitlePsychological trait and state characteristics, social support and attitudes to the surrogate pregnancy and baby
Authorsvan den Akker, O.
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Personality differences between surrogate mothers (SMs) who gestate and relinquish and intended mothers (IMs) who commission a genetically related or unrelated baby have been unexplored in the UK. Furthermore, the psychological effects of the arrangement have not been determined in a prospective longitudinal study, making this the first quantitative report of psychological functioning in SMs and IMs.
METHODS: SMs and IMs (n = 81: 61 surrogate, 20 intended) undergoing genetic or gestational surrogacy (4 groups) were assessed by postal questionnaire during the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Those with a positive outcome were assessed again in the first week, at 6 weeks and 6 months post-delivery of the surrogate baby.
RESULTS: There were no significant differences between or within SM and IM groups on personality characteristics. Social support, marital harmony and state anxiety differed significantly (to P < 0.01) between SMs and IMs at different stages of the arrangement. Differences in attitudes towards the pregnancy and the baby were also observed between groups during pregnancy (to P < 0.001), but there was no evidence of post-natal depression amongst the groups studied.
CONCLUSIONS: These results are important because they demonstrate psychological effects of the surrogate arrangement are notable and occur over an extended period of time. It also shows that psychological screening and support prior to, during and following surrogacy is indicated.

Research GroupApplied Health Psychology group
PublisherOUP
JournalHuman Reproduction
ISSN0268-1161
Publication dates
Print01 Aug 2007
Publication process dates
Deposited25 Nov 2009
Output statusPublished
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dem155
LanguageEnglish
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