Kinship support and coping with infertility: A qualitative study of women struggling with infertility from Delhi-NCR, India

Abstract

In cultures across the world, attaining motherhood is considered to be an essential part of a woman's life. Inability to have children can have personal and social implications. At the personal level, it can cause distress among women. At the societal level, women have to face discrimination and isolation, all of which take a toll on their mental health. The present study aims to understand how support from kinship networks, particularly spousal and familial support might facilitate or act as barriers to better coping with the stress, anxiety and depression caused by infertility among women living with infertility. The study was part of a larger research project funded by the National Commission for Women, India, it included qualitative interviews with 30 infertile women, comprising 15 high scorers in at least two mental health variables (e.g., stress, anxiety, depression) and 15 low scorers with minimal scores in at least two of these variables. Grounded theory was employed for data analysis and interpretation. Upon interviewing the women, it was found that important factors supporting coping in women were spousal and family support. Further it was found that these factors promoting good mental well-being did not function separately but were in conjunction with each other. We argue that kinship support is fundamental to coping with infertility in India, and that emotional support and understanding provided by partners and loved ones can be critical in enhancing and maintaining the mental well-being of women dealing with infertility.