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Personal Growth and Life Satisfaction among Arab Mothers After Fertility Treatment – The Role of Stress and Optimism

Author

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  • Salam Abu Sharkia

    (Bar-Ilan University)

  • Orit Taubman – Ben-Ari

    (Bar-Ilan University)

Abstract

Procreation has always been one of the main goals of marriage in Muslim society, where it is a religious obligation. Therefore, the inability to conceive is an extremely stressful experience that is liable to have long-term implications for a woman’s mental health. These effects may persist even after the problem is resolved and the woman has given birth. The current study therefore examined the personal growth and life satisfaction of Israeli Arab mothers (n = 154) up to two years after childbirth, comparing those who conceived as a result of fertility treatment with those who conceived spontaneously. By completion of electronic questionnaires posted through social media, we explored the contribution of stress and optimism, as well as the moderating effects of religiosity and study group. No differences were found between the groups on level of stress, personal growth, or life satisfaction. For the whole sample, a negative association was found between stress and life satisfaction, and a positive association between optimism and the two outcome variables. In addition, level of religiosity was not significantly associated with either personal growth or life satisfaction, and neither religiosity nor study group was found to moderate the associations between the variables. Finally, a negative linear, rather than curvilinear, link emerged between stress and personal growth.

Suggested Citation

  • Salam Abu Sharkia & Orit Taubman – Ben-Ari, 2024. "Personal Growth and Life Satisfaction among Arab Mothers After Fertility Treatment – The Role of Stress and Optimism," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 25(1), pages 1-21, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:25:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1007_s10902-024-00712-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-024-00712-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Julia K Boehm & Ying Chen & David R Williams & Carol Ryff & Laura D Kubzansky, 2015. "Unequally Distributed Psychological Assets: Are There Social Disparities in Optimism, Life Satisfaction, and Positive Affect?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(2), pages 1-16, February.
    2. Hisham Abu-Raiya & Reem Sulleiman, 2021. "Direct and Indirect Links Between Religious Coping and Posttraumatic Growth Among Muslims Who Lost Their Children Due to Traffic Accidents," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(5), pages 2215-2234, June.
    3. Gal Rozen & Orit Taubman – Ben-Ari & Tzipora Strauss & Iris Morag, 2018. "Personal Growth of Mothers of Preterms: Objective Severity of the Event, Subjective Stress, Personal Resources, and Maternal Emotional Support," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 19(7), pages 2167-2186, October.
    4. Hans-Peter Kohler & Letizia Mencarini, 2016. "The Parenthood Happiness Puzzle: An Introduction to Special Issue," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 32(3), pages 327-338, August.
    5. Francesca Luppi, 2016. "When is the Second One Coming? The Effect of Couple’s Subjective Well-Being Following the Onset of Parenthood," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 32(3), pages 421-444, August.
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