Pathways and Barriers to Parenthood: Existential Concerns Regarding Fertility, Pregnancy, and Early Parenthood

Description

This volume explores the transition to parenthood from a holistic developmental approach, relating to barriers such as fertility problems and traumatic childbirth, as well as pathways such as positive experiences of pregnancy and childbirth. It presents an extended process, beginning with infertility issues, continuing with subjects pertaining to decisions regarding parenthood, pregnancy and birth, and ending with the early stages of parenthood from a positive psychology perspective. The volume draws on theories of resilience, meaning, terror management, and attachment, and considers psychological, sociological, legal, policy, medical, and therapy issues. It relates to the developmental needs of individuals and couples, as well as to the role played by family, society, and the media, offering a comprehensive in-depth evaluation of the latest topics. Front Matter ....Pages i-xvii Giving Birth to Meaning: Understanding Parenthood Through the Psychology of Meaning in Life (Jessica L. Morse, Michael F. Steger)....Pages 1-17 The Experience of Infertility: An Unexpected Barrier in the Transition to Parenthood (Brennan Peterson, Jean Marie S. Place)....Pages 19-37 In Pursuit of Parenthood: The Highs and Lows of Fertility Treatment (Vera Skvirsky, Orit Taubman – Ben-Ari)....Pages 39-57 Fertility Problems and Fertility Care in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Case of Kenya (Henny M. W. Bos, Floor B. van Rooij, Tammary Esho, Wanjiru Ndegwa, Aida Bilajbegovic, Benjamin Kioko et al.)....Pages 59-82 Fertility Treatment Through the Eyes of the Media: Words, Metaphors, and Images in Israeli Media Coverage of Fertility and Fertility Treatment (Shirley Ben Shlomo, Oneg Kabizon-Pery)....Pages 83-99 Health and Development of Children Born Following Assisted Reproductive Technology Treatments (Adel Farhi, Saralee Glasser, Liat Lerner-Geva)....Pages 101-111 Psychological and Ethical Issues in Third Party Assisted Conception and Surrogate Motherhood (Olga van den Akker)....Pages 113-125 Resilience to Prenatal Stress (Michael Ungar, Kristin Hadfield, Nicole Bush, Amélie Quesnel-Vallée, Igor Pekelny)....Pages 127-153 Parenting in Hetero-Gay Families: Motivations, Assumptions, Gender and Culture (Dorit Segal-Engelchin, Sarah Jen, Pauline I. Erera)....Pages 155-171 Reproductive Autonomy: Sex Selection as a Defining Case Study (Gil Siegal)....Pages 173-183 From Cradle to Grave: A Terror Management Theory Analysis of Parenthood (Sheldon Solomon)....Pages 185-198 The Impact of Birth on Women’s Health and Wellbeing (Susan Ayers, Alexandra Sawyer)....Pages 199-218 Resolution of Difficult Experiences and Future Parenting (Miri Scharf, Pnina Isenberg-Borenstein, Rachel Marcow Rosenberg)....Pages 219-234 Confronting Existential Concerns in the Transition to Parenthood: A Theoretical and Therapeutic Model (Noga Levin-Keini, Shirley Ben Shlomo)....Pages 235-249 Health Behavior, Health Promotion, and the Transition to Parenthood: Insights from Research in Health Psychology and Behavior Change (Martin S. Hagger, Kyra Hamilton)....Pages 251-269 Blossoming and Growing in the Transition to Parenthood (Orit Taubman – Ben-Ari)....Pages 271-290 Attachment and the Transition to Parenthood (W. Steven Rholes, Ramona L. Paetzold)....Pages 291-303 Attachment, Caregiving, and Parenting (Mario Mikulincer, Phillip R. Shaver)....Pages 305-319 Back Matter ....Pages 321-341