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Coming to terms with permanent involuntary childlessness: A phenomenological analysis of bulletin board postings

Malik, Sumaira H.; Coulson, Neil S.

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Authors

Sumaira H. Malik



Abstract

Little is known about the role that online support communities play in the lives of women faced with permanent involuntary childlessness. To understand the experiences of these women, this study conducted a thematic analysis of messages downloaded from an online community for permanent involuntary childlessness. Four central themes were identified: Feeling like an "outsider", A whole lifetime of loss, Coming to terms with childlessness and Finding a safe haven online. These findings show that the online community appeared to empower women to move on with their lives and discover a new sense of self-worth and identity beyond that of motherhood.

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Dec 10, 2012
Online Publication Date Feb 28, 2013
Publication Date Feb 1, 2013
Deposit Date Jan 7, 2021
Publicly Available Date Jan 29, 2021
Journal Europe's Journal of Psychology
Electronic ISSN 1841-0413
Publisher PsychOpen
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 9
Issue 1
Pages 77-92
DOI https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v9i1.534
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/3161506
Publisher URL https://ejop.psychopen.eu/index.php/ejop/article/view/534