Explaining differences in how women and men cope with infertility: Effects of appraisals

Abstract

Previous research has clearly shown sex differences in coping with infertility such that women report using most coping strategies to a greater degree than do men. No research has examined what might account for these differences. The current study tested whether women cope more than men because they 1) have a greater desire for children, 2) experience infertility as a greater threat to their self esteem, or 3) tend to appraise stress more severely in general.