Self-Regulation processes of couples undergoing infertility treatments

This research explores how couples deal with a blockage to the major life-goal of biological parenthood. A blockage to this goal could be infertility. According to self-regulation theory, disengaging (i.e. giving up) from a blocked goal and reengaging in other meaningful life goals should lead to better wellbeing. Our research aims to test this hypothesis. Decision-making about uptake of (more) fertility treatment is a suitable context to understand how people deal with a blockage of the parenthood goal. In particular, the results of this research are relevant for the development of tailored interventions to help patients who are at risk for discontinuing too early or continuing for too long in fertility treatment.