An Examination of Religious Coping and Depression Amongst Infertile Muslim Women
Mona Elgohail, B.A.1 and Pamela A. Geller, Ph.D.1,2 1 Department of Psychology, Drexel University; 2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Drexel University College of Medicine
Abstract
Infertility is a deeply distressing experience that affects
millions of women each year, with many also suffering from
depression. Depression may increase the risk of
experiencing infertility, and decrease the success rate of
infertility treatment. Studies suggest that strong religious
beliefs may be protective against depression, and lead to
better infertility treatment outcomes; however, in the Western
world these connections remain unexplored outside of
Christian populations. Studies suggest that American Muslim
women may experience higher levels of depression than the
general population, and therefore may be particularly prone
to infertility and unsuccessful infertility treatment. While it has
been common practice to apply Christian conceptualizations
of religiosity to Muslims, evidence suggests that this
approach is inadequate in conceptualizing Muslim
religiousness. This poster will provide an overview of an
ongoing project that seeks to extend our understanding of
the relationship between depression, religiosity, and infertility
by investigating the role of religion in shaping the
psychological well-being of infertile Muslim women living in
the West.
Introduction
•  In Western countries, the percentage of infertile couples
in Australia is approximately 17% (Clark & Mackenzie,
2007), followed by 12% in the United States (NSFG,
2013), 16% in Canada (Bushnik et al., 2012), and
10-15% in the UK (Evers, 2002).
•  Many studies have reported that depression is highly
prevalent among infertile women (e.g., Chen, 2004), and
may contribute to the development and maintenance of
fertility problems (e.g., Lapane et al.,1995).
•  Studies of infertile Jewish and Christian women suggest
that religious practices may help them cope with
adversity and disappointment (Domar et al., 2005), and
increase the likelihood that they will become pregnant
(Merari et al., 1996).
•  This is the first study to examine the relationship
between depression and religiosity amongst Muslim
women struggling with fertility problems.
Objectives
Measures
To assess the following relationships amongst
Muslim women struggling with fertility problems:
Demographics
•  Infertility and treatment history
•  The relationship between depressive symptoms
and infertility-related distress.
Depression
•  Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression
Scale, Revised (CESD-R; Eaton, Smith, Ybarra,
Muntaner, & Tien, 2004)
•  The relationship between religiosity and
depressive symptoms.
•  The relationship between religiosity and infertilityrelated distress.
Methods
Study Design
•  Cross-sectional, online self-report survey
Procedures
•  210 Muslim women living in the US, UK, AU, and
CA will be recruited using a variety of methods.
•  Study advertisements will be posted on websites
(e.g., Facebook, Twitter, blogs, online sites aimed
at Muslims, infertility websites).
•  Muslim organizations will be contacted and asked
to advertise the study to their respective members
using word of mouth, email, and Facebook. The
study advertisements will be shared with these
organizations as well.
•  Interested potential participants will access the
10 minute research questionnaire via a weblink
which will direct them to the survey hosted on
www.qualtrics.com.
•  This study is currently undergoing IRB review.
Recruitment will commence as soon as approval
is granted.
Infertility-Related Stress
•  Fertility Problem Inventory (FPI; Newton,
Sherrard, & Glavac, 1999)
Religious Coping
•  Brief Religious Coping Scale (Brief RCOPE;
Pargament, Smith, Koenig, Perez, 1998)
Religious Commitment
•  Religious Commitment Inventory – 10 (RCI-10;
Worthington, Wade, Hight, Ripley, McCullough,
Berry, ... & O'Connor, 2003)
Clinical Implications
•  Results may guide the development of
interventions that incorporate healthy religious
coping to alleviate depressive symptoms and
increase chances of healthy pregnancy amongst
Muslim women struggling with infertility.
•  A better understanding of the relationship
between religiosity and depression could inform
health care professionals and religious leaders
in counseling infertile Muslim women in the use
of religious practices to promote their physical
and psychological well-being.
Contact Mona Elgohail for references or questions at
me425@drexel.edu.