Frey, LisaBrody, Jessica2014-12-112014-12-112014-12-12http://hdl.handle.net/11244/13874The present study examined predictors of fertility-specific distress in the experience of involuntary childlessness. One hundred and twelve women took part in this online study. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire, the Fertility Problem Inventory, the Relational Health Indices, the Feminist Perspectives Scale, the Traditional Motherhood Scale, and the Hoffman Gender Scale. A hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to examine how feminist perspectives, traditional mothering values, gender self-confidence, and relational quality related to fertilityrelated distress. The regression analysis revealed that traditional mothering values, relational quality, age, and income significantly predicted fertility-related distress. Specifically, higher endorsement of traditional mothering values significantly predicted higher levels of fertility-related distress, while higher levels of relational quality significantly predicted less fertility-related distress. Younger age and lower income significantly predicted fertility-related distress. These results may inform counseling strategies when working with women who have experienced reproductive problems and may add to the growing body of literature investigating involuntary childlessness from a feminist perspective. Placing women’s reproductive struggles in a sociocultural context may help to increase women’s sense of agency, autonomy, and authenticity in negotiating their own perceptions of motherhood as they make reproductive decisions.Involuntary ChildlessnessMotherhoodSocial Construction of InfertilityFeminism and Involuntary Childlessness