Family- Work Conflicts and Defensive Mechanisms in Infertile and Fertile Working Women

Abstract

1/8/ 1400 Abstract According to the academic literature, infertility is a feeling of helplessness that affects the general Psychological health in women. Psychoanalytic theories believe that infertility is a defensive response to ambivalent feelings about maternity and individual goals. This research aims to investigate the discriminating power of work family conflicts questionnaire and Defensive Styles Questionnaire (DSQ) in infertile and fertile women. Discriminant function analysis result showed that 67.7% of samples can be differentiated according these two variables (Wilks’ Lambda= 0.85, X 2 = 10.14, p<0.05). Results showed that infertile women, compared to fertile ones have more conflicts and more defensive mechanisms. According to psychoanalytic theories these results can be explained as psychological suppression of fertility. Intolerance of ambivalence and conflict between career goals and desires for parenthood has a psychological suppressing impact in fertility.