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Studies

Abbey et al. (1994): study US 1988

Publication

Author(s):
Abbey, A.; Andrews, F.M.; Halman, L.J.
Title:
Psychosocial Predictors of Life Quality: How are They Effected by Infertility, Gender and Parenthood?
Source:
Journal of Family Issues, 1994, Vol. 15, 253 - 271

Investigation

Public
Infertile couples and matched controls, followed 3 years, USA 1988-1990
Survey name
Unnamed study
Sample
Non-probability purposive-expert sample
Respondents
N = 496
Non Response
20%
Assessment
Interview: face-to-face
at T1 face-to-face, at T2 and T3 by telephone

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:
Self report on 2 questions:

A  .. 'satisfaction with life as a whole'  (full item not reported)
      1  very dissatisfied
      2
      3
      4
      5  very satisfied

B   … happiness… (full item not reported)
     1
     2
     3
     Response options not reported

Summation: not reported
Classification:
O-Sum-?-mq-v-8-b
Author's label:
global life quality
Page in publication:
259
Error estimates:
Cronbach alpha at T1: .74, at T3: .78

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding Got a child Change in parental status
Birth of children
Infertility seen as problem Attitude to having children
Specific concerns
Specific worries
Home stress Tensions in marital relationship
Own attitudes to spouse
Role ambiguity
Personal control Independent
Inner locus of control
satisfaction with social support Satisfaction with social support received Spouse support Support by spouse Spouse conflict Tensions in marital relationship
Problems with family\marriage
Problem-solving coping Coping with specific life-events Escape coping Current coping-style
Coping with specific life-events
Intercourse frequency Sexual activity Global Life Quality at initial interview Past happiness ( 1 to 10 years ago) birth of first child + conditions Birth of children
Summed effect of change in personal conditions