Childlessness, Parenthood and Psychological Wellbeing

This study was conducted to examine the differences in the perception of psychological wellbeing by childless couples in treatment, couples who adopted after failed treatment and couples who experienced biological parenthood. In all, 293 couples were selected out of which 100 involuntarily childless couples taking assisted reproductive technology treatment, 100 involuntarily childless couples chose to adopt after failed treatment and 93 couples experienced biological parenthood. These three groups filled out demographic details along with, Psychological General Wellbeing Index (PGWBI), that measured their perception of psychological wellbeing. Multivariate analyses of covariance and Bonferroni adjustment were done, controlling the confounding effect of demographic characteristics. It was found that couples who adopted reported higher psychological wellbeing than the couples in treatment. Couples in treatment experienced higher psychological wellbeing than the couples who attained biological parenthood. Couples who were in treatment and couples who adopted after failed treatment perceived higher (PWB) than the couples with biological parenthood. Psychological wellbeing is perceived to be high for couples who adopted after failed treatment and they experienced better psychological wellbeing than couples who had a biological child.