La coppia sterile tra lutto, coping e resilienza

This present article gives an overview of the social and psychological implications of couple infertility. With an excursus on the evolution of the main theories in this area, the authors explore the experiences of couples facing infertility, taking into account gender differences and the impact that inability to generate has on couple relationship, in an unstable balance between the breakdown and the strengthening of the bond. It has been analyzed the effect of some coping strategies that appear adaptive for a partner, but that has been identified as the cause of stress and depression for the other one and, therefore, synonymous with low marital adjustment, and coping strategies more functional, such as the not exclusive acceptance of responsibility and attribution of meaning to the "event sterility". It also has been analized the concept of resilience as a critical factor to support positive interactions and perceptions in infertile couples. Finally, the attention has been focused on the importance of a process of support and therapy for couples in crisis, in order to integrate the wound of the loss of fertility in their own identity and its history as a couple and to revise their life goals.

Keywords: Couple infertility, psychological impact, gender differences, coping strategies, resilience, support and psychotherapeutic intervention

Alessandra Salerno, Sebastiana Giuliano, La coppia sterile tra lutto, coping e resilienza in "TERAPIA FAMILIARE" 96/2011, pp 27-45, DOI: 10.3280/TF2011-096002