Gabriela Markova, Daniela Sobotková, Marek Špinka, Jana Ullmann, Šárka Kaňková, Lea Takács
{"title":"Effects of maternal perinatal stress and child temperament on mother-child peek-a-boo play.","authors":"Gabriela Markova, Daniela Sobotková, Marek Špinka, Jana Ullmann, Šárka Kaňková, Lea Takács","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2026.2704973","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2026.2704973","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Caregiver-child play is an important context for early social interactions, yet little is known about how maternal perinatal stress and child temperament relate to maternal play behaviour within structured game routines. Peek-a-boo provides a predictable but flexible play routine in which structural and temporal characteristics of maternal play behaviours can be observed. This study examined whether maternal perinatal stress and child temperament at 12 months were associated with maternal peek-a-boo behaviour at 15 months.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Seventy-one mother-child dyads participated in the study. Maternal perceived stress was assessed at eight time points across the perinatal period, while child temperament was evaluated at 12 months of child age. Maternal peek-a-boo behaviour was observed at 15 months and operationalised through play duration, frequency of game rounds, and the frequency and duration of optional game phases (i.e. variability in game structure).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Longer play duration was associated with higher average perinatal stress and lower child Orienting/Regulatory Capacity. Maternal stress showed a trend-level positive association with the duration of optional game phases. Primiparous mothers also spent more time in optional game phases than multiparous mothers.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings suggest that individual differences in maternal perinatal stress, child temperament at 12 months, and parity may be reflected in how mothers organise a familiar peek-a-boo routine. Although preliminary, the results highlight the value of examining the fine-grained structure of early play interactions using observational methods.</p>","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148632242","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Partnering with partners: a quality improvement project in perinatal intensive outpatient programming.","authors":"Kathryn E Cherry","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2026.2708743","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2026.2708743","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims/background: </strong>Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) are among the most common complications of childbirth. Intensive Outpatient Programming (IOP) treats the most acute/severe PMADs while fostering birthing patient-infant relationships. As perinatal psychiatric treatments expand, non-birthing partners are critical to include and serve, both for their own PMADs risk and to support birthing patients.</p><p><strong>Design/methods: </strong>This quality improvement study describes the development and early implementation of a 1-3 session program, termed Partner Project, serving patients in a perinatal IOP and their partners. Treatment goals were to: improve partner understanding of PMADs/treatment, promote partner well-being and contact with services, cultivate partner skills for patient support, and foster intimate relationship functioning. Couples (<i>n</i> = 17) participated, with measures of anxiety, depression, bonding, and program feedback.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The final protocol involves two sessions with both partners beginning during early/middle IOP treatment and ending around graduation. Patient anxiety, depression, and bonding symptoms began in clinical ranges and significantly decreased after treatment. On average, no partner questionnaires (baseline only) were in clinical ranges, though prompted important discussions about thoughts of self-harm, coping, and partner mental health. Referrals were requested/provided to individual, couples, and fathering group therapies. Feedback forms were not required (patient <i>n</i> = 6, partner <i>n</i> = 4), though indicated high levels of satisfaction and provided qualitative information on treatment experiences.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Partner Project sessions adapted evidence-based couple-based interventions to the perinatal IOP context, and demonstrated treatment interest and satisfaction. Patients, partners, and infants stand to benefit from including and addressing partner PMADs and relational functioning within perinatal mental health treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"1-14"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148593969","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Anisha Hussain, Alanta Nalivaikaite, Jasmine Warren, Leanne Jackson
{"title":"A pilot study to explore postpartum body image and resumed menstruation.","authors":"Anisha Hussain, Alanta Nalivaikaite, Jasmine Warren, Leanne Jackson","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2026.2703090","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2026.2703090","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims/background: </strong>The first two years postpartum involve substantial physiological change, increasing vulnerability to distress. Body dissatisfaction may be intensified by gestational weight gain, sociocultural 'bounce-back' pressure, and hormonal changes linked to resumed menstruation, which typically returns within 6-8 weeks postpartum for non-breastfeeding women and 6-18 months for breastfeeding women. Despite this, lived experiences of body image and resumed menstruation remain understudied. The current pilot study aimed to address this literature gap.</p><p><strong>Design/methods: </strong>A total of eleven UK mothers participated in semi-structured interviews. Reflexive thematic analysis was applied to interview transcripts.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Two major themes were identified: Mind-body feedback (sub-themes: A stranger to myself, Menstrual return - a measure of wholeness) and Depletion as a positive feedback loop (sub-themes: Diet and exercise: stuck between a rock and a hard place; Finding your tribe). Body dissatisfaction and declining self-care often co-existed as women struggled to navigate new infant care responsibilities and grieved their pre‑pregnancy identities. Distress was also felt in relation to gestational weight gain and hair loss. Resumed menstruation was viewed both as an important marker of health and bodily 'wholeness', and as a source of stress when symptoms were severe. Finally, participants reported inadequate healthcare guidance and a desire for more support around menstruation, body changes, and self-care postpartum.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Reframing attitudes towards one's body from its appearance to its functionality supported self-compassion and empowerment. Findings highlight the potential value of self-compassion and cognitive-behavioural interventions, menstrual self-monitoring, and improved healthcare and community support to enhance postpartum wellbeing and body confidence.</p>","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"1-26"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148537398","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Prevalence, influencing factors of postpartum depression among parents and the moderating role of empathy.","authors":"Jiaqi Kong, Xue Nan, Xinjing Li, Min Yin","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2026.2694054","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2026.2694054","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>To investigate postpartum depression (PPD) symptoms in mothers and fathers during the early postpartum period, and to examine the moderating role of empathy dimensions in the dyadic transmission of PPD symptoms between parents.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong> This longitudinal study recruited 325 parent-infant dyads from two tertiary hospitals in Lanzhou, China, between March and November 2023. Data were collected at 3 days (T1) and 6-8 weeks (T2) postpartum using the General Information Survey, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the Chinese version of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index, and the shortened Marital Satisfaction Scale.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The prevalence of maternal PPD symptoms was 28.3% at T1 and 42.1% at T2; paternal prevalence was 25.5% at T1 and 17.8% at T2. Maternal PPD symptoms at T2 were positively correlated with T1 symptoms (<i>r</i> = 0.535, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and Personal Distress (<i>r</i> = 0.362, <i>p</i> < 0.001), and negatively correlated with marital satisfaction (<i>r</i> = -0.295, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Paternal PPD symptoms at T2 were positively correlated with T1 symptoms (<i>r</i> = 0.541, <i>p</i> < 0.001), Fantasy (<i>r</i> = 0.135, <i>p</i> < 0.05) and Personal Distress (<i>r</i> = 0.327, <i>p</i> < 0.001), and negatively correlated with marital satisfaction (<i>r</i> = -0.334, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Moderation analysis showed that paternal Fantasy positively moderated the association between maternal PPD symptoms at T1 and paternal PPD symptoms at T2 (<i>β</i> = 0.141, <i>p</i> < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Maternal PPD symptoms increased from T1 to T2, whereas paternal symptoms decreased. Fathers with higher Fantasy scores are more susceptible to maternal PPD symptoms and may develop PPD symptoms themselves.</p>","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"1-26"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148431368","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Fraser Anderson, Caroline J Edmonds, Kylee Trevillion, Louise M Howard
{"title":"The relationship between maternal experiences of abuse and maternal sensitivity in early mother-infant interactions.","authors":"Fraser Anderson, Caroline J Edmonds, Kylee Trevillion, Louise M Howard","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2026.2694045","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2026.2694045","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims/background: </strong>Although often assumed to be the case, the evidence for an association between maternal experiences of lifetime abuse and maternal sensitivity in early mother-infant interactions is inconclusive. Few studies have used observational measures of parental sensitivity, investigated maternal abuse across the lifespan, and included contextual explanatory variables when examining the relationship between maternal abuse history and parental sensitivity. This study aimed to address these gaps and hypothesised that maternal experiences of abuse are associated with lower parental sensitivity.</p><p><strong>Design/methods: </strong>A secondary data analysis of a cohort study of 197 mother-infant dyads, recruited in early pregnancy and followed up at 28-weeks' gestation and 3-months postpartum. Detailed information on sociodemographic, mental health and history of lifetime abuse experiences were collected during pregnancy. At 3-months postpartum, mother-infant interactions were filmed and coded to measure maternal sensitivity.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There was insufficient evidence to support the primary hypothesis that maternal experiences of abuse are associated with decreased sensitivity in interactions with their 3-month-old infants (<i>B</i> = -0.72, 95% CI -1.55 - 0.12). Trauma symptoms, social support, ethnicity and socioeconomic factors did predict maternal sensitivity, although in the fully adjusted model only ethnicity independently predicted sensitivity (<i>B</i> = -1.69, 95% CI -2.86 - -0.52).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Although abuse did not independently predict sensitivity, abuse was associated with socioeconomic disadvantage, poorer social support, trauma and mental health problems, all of which can impact on sensitive parenting. Interventions to support parent-infant relationships are important for tackling health inequalities and need to be trauma focused.</p>","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"1-19"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148431331","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Brecht Gyselinck, Femke Vanwetswinkel, Floor Puttemans, Nicole Vliegen, Lore Lannoo, Anne Smits, Astrid M Kamperman, Eline M P Poels, Esther M Knijff, Michael Ceulemans, Titia Hompes
{"title":"Preconception counselling components in women with serious mental illness: a scoping review.","authors":"Brecht Gyselinck, Femke Vanwetswinkel, Floor Puttemans, Nicole Vliegen, Lore Lannoo, Anne Smits, Astrid M Kamperman, Eline M P Poels, Esther M Knijff, Michael Ceulemans, Titia Hompes","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2026.2699135","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2026.2699135","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>Women with severe mental illness (SMI) face significant pregnancy-related risks, yet targeted preconception counselling (PCC) remains poorly defined. This scoping review systematically maps existing literature on PCC for women with SMI.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Following the JBI evidence manual for Scoping reviews and the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases were searched from inception to June 2025. English-language articles describing PCC interventions or guidelines targeting women with bipolar disorder and psychosis-spectrum disorders were included.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>From 1,208 unique records, 33 articles were identified and reviewed, predominantly narrative reviews (<i>n</i> = 23/33, 70%), clinical guidelines (<i>n</i> = 4/33, 12%), and empirical studies (<i>n</i> = 5/33, 15%). Key PCC themes included: Maternal and infant risks and lifestyle education (<i>n</i> = 28/33 articles), medication and treatment options (<i>n</i> = 27/33), planning and preventive care (<i>n</i> = 27/33), history-taking and risk assessment (<i>n</i> = 18/33), and multidisciplinary support/relational aspects (<i>n</i> = 14/33). Structured interventions or standardised frameworks were rare (<i>n</i> = 1/33), and articles infrequently addressed patient-centred factors or Infant Mental Health (<i>n</i> = 2/33).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Current evidence on PCC for women with SMI remains fragmented. The findings support the need for clearer, consensus-based guidance integrating psychiatric, reproductive, and psychosocial considerations, with IMH emerging as an underexplored author-identified area for future PCC framework development. Future research should prioritise prospective studies, development/assessment of structured interventions, standardised PCC frameworks, and expert consensus, to support accessible, stigma-free, and resilience-enhancing care for women with SMI, ultimately supporting optimal outcomes for mothers, infants, and families.</p>","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"1-20"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148425200","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Self-esteem, partner support, and body image changes across pregnancy.","authors":"Esra Keles, Leyla Kaya, Yıldız Bilge, Pınar Kumru, Zahide Kaya, Hakan Dokumuş","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2026.2700754","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2026.2700754","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To examine longitudinal changes in body image, self-esteem, spousal support, dyadic adjustment, and sexual function across pregnancy trimesters and investigate the mediating role of relationship factors in the association between self-esteem and body image.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This prospective longitudinal cohort study followed 266 pregnant women from the first trimester (T1; 7 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks) through the third trimester (T3; 32-36 weeks) at a tertiary care hospital in Turkey. Participants completed the Body Image in Pregnancy Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Spousal Support Scale, Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale, and Female Sexual Function Index each trimester. Pre-pregnancy BMI was included as a covariate in mediation analyses.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Body image deteriorated significantly from T1 to T3 (Cohen's d = 1.72), while sexual function declined (d = 0.39). Self-esteem remained stable across pregnancy. The half-longitudinal mediation analysis demonstrated that T1 self-esteem was associated with T3 body image both directly and indirectly through T3 relationship quality. This association was partially mediated by relationship variables (19% of variance at T1, 16% at T3), with spousal support predominating in early pregnancy and couple adjustment in late pregnancy. Sexual function did not serve as a significant mediator.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Pregnancy involves substantial deterioration in body image and sexual function, while relationship quality improves. Sexual function decline was not significantly associated with the self-esteem-body image pathway in the present analyses, suggesting that different mechanisms may underlie sexual function changes during pregnancy. Self-esteem <i>is</i> associated with body image partly through perceived partner support in early pregnancy and relationship adjustment in late pregnancy.</p>","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"1-18"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148413303","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ana Rabasa, Luisa Bergunde, Marta Giménez-Dasí, Susan Garthus-Niegel
{"title":"Rebalancing the narrative: integrating benevolent childhood experiences into developmental and perinatal research.","authors":"Ana Rabasa, Luisa Bergunde, Marta Giménez-Dasí, Susan Garthus-Niegel","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2026.2696177","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2026.2696177","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"1-4"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148370372","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
E G Chatziioannidou, T Ch Bellali, Z G Papaligoura
{"title":"The experience of oocyte donation pregnancy and early motherhood in Greece: a longitudinal, phenomenological study.","authors":"E G Chatziioannidou, T Ch Bellali, Z G Papaligoura","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2025.2489548","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02646838.2025.2489548","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>It has not been investigated how Greek women who have undergone oocyte donation experience pregnancy and early motherhood.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To explore the experience of women who have a child without a genetic link during pregnancy and after birth.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Nine pregnant women aged 32 - 49 (<i>M</i> = 40.8 years) who conceived their child through oocyte donation participated in the study. Four semi-structured interviews were conducted with each woman, one in each trimester and one 5-7 months after birth. The interviews were transcribed verbatim, and a phenomenological interpretative analysis was undertaken.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Three main themes emerged: 'In the beginning' (experience and difficulties at first trimester); 'The prenatal bond compensates for the absence' (progress of pregnancy and acceptance of non-genetic link); ''It's my, mine but…' (experienced early motherhood after delivery). This qualitative study reveals changes in initial perceptions and beliefs about the importance of a genetic link during pregnancy and after childbirth. The prenatal bond and early parental care seem to have helped to accept the absence of genetic affinity. However, younger women even after giving birth expressed the hope of having a child genetically related to them. Also, some concerns that initially exist reappear after the child is born.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study's findings have important implications for Assisted Reproduction Centers (ARC) professionals to understand the needs and worries of women who decide to conceive through oocyte donation. In addition, the study offers women considering oocyte donation an insight into the experiences of other women who already have a child.</p>","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"1020-1039"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144018548","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The surrogacy experience: a survey of psychosocial impacts on gestational carriers.","authors":"S A Pawlak, S Sami, E B K Thomas","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2025.2472873","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02646838.2025.2472873","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims/background: </strong>Surrogacy is a complex endeavour, with various medical, legal, financial, interpersonal, and emotional impacts. This study examines surrogacy from the Gestational Carrier (GC)'s viewpoint, with attention paid to motivation, relationship with Intended Parents, and the short- and long-term impacts to self and family members.</p><p><strong>Design/method: </strong>Fertility clinic patients who carried a pregnancy for other person(s) at least one time were asked by the clinic health psychologist via letter to complete anonymous online/written survey data about their experiences. Data were gathered using a 49-item self-report questionnaire with collection occurring between January 4-March 1, 2019.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>28 GCs responded, with last surrogacy ranging from current time (pregnant at time of survey completion) to 5.5 years prior. 93% of respondents were white and 78.5% were married/partnered, with a median age of 33.8 years and median number of own children being 2.6. Most carried 1-2 surrogate pregnancies. Subjects reported primarily altruistic reasons for engaging in surrogacy though 25% also endorsed monetary compensation as being important. GCs largely viewed the surrogacy experience favourably, with positive impacts to self-concept, partner relationships, and children, and reported generally positive interactions with Intended Parents. Almost 70% of GCs worked with a surrogacy agency, and about one-third of these found the relationship to be beneficial.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study supports existing research indicating that surrogacy is generally satisfactory to the parties involved with few negative outcomes. A description of GCs' experiences with surrogacy agencies, seldom examined in previous literature, adds valuable insights. GCs' qualitative comments enhance the quantitative data.</p>","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"1040-1051"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143543734","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}