Science and surrogate motherhood

Comprative analisis of surrogate mothers and women having other maternity status(1)

Psychological special features of mode of life, behavior and relationship

The participants of this comparative study are represented by the four groups of young women who materialize their reproductive abilities by different methods. The total number of women participating in the study was 80 with each group consisting of 20 women.

The first group was made up of the would-be surrogate mothers who expressed their desire to participate in the surrogate motherhood program and passed through the medical examination procedure with successful results. They have already met the genetic parents for whom they intend to carry a child. It is the binding requirement of the surrogate motherhood program that the potential surrogate mothers should have at least one child of their own.

The second group is composed of the women who are childless at the moment.

The third group is represented by women having 1 or 2 children and who are not involved in the surrogate motherhood program.

The fourth group consists of the women having the status of mothers of many children in Ukraine, i.e. the women who have at least three children.

The average age of the women belonging to the different groups is shown in Figure 1 below.

Fig. 1. Average age of study participants

The age of the women is shown in years. The average age of the mothers of many children and those having 1 or 2 children is somewhat older than the age of the childless women and surrogate mothers.

Figure 2 below illustrates the level of education that the study participants have.

Fig. 2. Group-average point of education level possessed by study participants

To analyze the level of education possessed by the women under study, the higher education was assessed as "3" points, incomplete higher education, secondary special and secondary technical education was assessed as "2" points, secondary education was assessed as "1" point. It can be seen from the diagram that the level of education is more or less similar for all the groups.

Described below are the professional employment categories found in the groups under study. Women on maternity leaves, as well as the ones having the profession of sewers, shop assistants, nurses, managers, waitresses, public employees, housewives were most typical for the group of surrogate mothers. Students, secretaries, managers, dancing teachers and shop assistants, medical staff prevailed among the childless women. The group of the women having 1 or 2 children was represented by the women on maternity leaves, students, managers, servicing sphere personnel, accountants, shop assistants, while the last group (the selected mothers of many children) consisted of the women on maternity leaves, housewives, managers, accountants, social sphere personnel.

Thus, all the groups that were selected belonged to the similar age range (20-35 years old women) and had an evenly spread education level – the women having secondary, secondary special and higher education were present in each group, although the group of surrogate mothers included some more members, having secondary education, while the group of women with 1 or 2 children included some more members having higher education. The professional spread did not have any material differences either. This affords an opportunity to make an accurate comparison of their psychological and behavioral characteristics.

The further analysis is no longer related the objective social-and-demographic characteristics, but is concerned, instead, with the subjective psychological features of the women under study.

First of all, the adapting qualities of all study participants are worth analyzing, since they represent the most important human ability to preserve oneself in the ever-changing environment. Our life is subject to ongoing changes and challenges all its carriers. Moreover, women are held responsible for life and well-being of their real and potential children. Even the matter of pregnancy planning, probability of a successful pregnancy is viewed as the fact not so easy to prepare for and adapt to. The same concerns the other side of the coin, that is the information on reproductive problems and inability to carry and deliver a child without outside help.

Особенности адаптивности – Adaptability distinctive features Группа адаптации – Adaptation group Установка на социальное одобрение – Set to social approval Нервно-психическая устойчивость и – Neuropsychic stability and регуляция поведения control of behavior Коммуникативный потенциал – Communicative potential Моральная нормативность – Moral normalization Суррогатные матери – Surrogate mothers Бездетные женщины – Childless women Женщины с 1-2 детьми – Women having 1 or 2 children Многодетные матери – Mothers of many children

Fig. 3. Distinctive features of adaptability and social approval

The parameters illustrated in the diagram (Fig. 3) show that the more points are collected by the group, the higher its adaptability is, except for the parameters relating to the group of adaptation and set to social approval.

The expressive character of the set to social approval does not depend on the adaptability and proves that the greater number of points is, the stronger is the desire of the women under study to be liked, to produce a favorable impression. As shown by the diagram, the set to approval was proper, to the maximum degree, to the mothers of many children and surrogate mothers, while, to the lesser degree, to the women having 1 or 2 children, and, to the least degree, to the childless women. Simultaneously, as regards both the surrogate mothers and the mothers of many children, this quality is within the norm and cannot influence the reliability of other results. In this case, the level of 10 points is considered to be the high level being up to the reliability limit.

Quantitatively, the "Adaptation group" parameter may be equivalent to 3 points, by which value the worst adaptability is expressed. Average adaptability and very good adaptability are expressed by the values of 2 points and 1 point, respectively. People relating to the first group of adaptation are easily adaptable to variable work conditions, get adequately and rather easily oriented in different situations, are able to develop rapidly to develop the strategy of their behavior. It can be seen that the surrogate mothers are most adapted – their average value is even less than 2 points.

The neuropsychic stability and behavioral control vary over the range of 10 points – the greater is the number of points, the better is the ability of persons to face a stress situation, withstand emotional pressure, control their behavior, maintain capacity for work and positive mood. This ability also proved to be most developed as regards the surrogate mothers.

The communicative potential is the ability to communicate, be on good terms with people, "join" new collectives. This ability is also most pronounced in the group of surrogate mothers. It's only the moral normalization feature (a tendency to behave in consistency with the social norms and rules) manifests itself similarly in all the groups.

Fig. 4. Attitude to pregnancy and motherhood

By interviewing the women under study we were able to understand their attitude to pregnancy and motherhood. The most favorable attitude to pregnancy was displayed by the surrogate mothers, while the mothers of many children took the second position. When pregnant, the surrogate mothers often feel good and enjoy the child carrying process.

Pregnancy-related fears (any potential anxiety sources were discussed: fear for one's health, for the health of one's child, for the state of one's appearance during pregnancy and after it) proved to be most strongly displayed by the childless women and most weakly displayed by the would-be surrogate mothers.

Apart from the surrogate mothers themselves, to the most loyal attitude to the surrogate motherhood phenomenon was on the part of the childless women and mothers of many children, while the women having 1 or 2 children were more reserved.

Apart from the surrogate mothers who already participate in the surrogate motherhood program, the mothers of many children consider the idea of becoming a prenatal nurse (i.e. a surrogate mother) as a practical opportunity.

The rest of the questions that were asked during the interview pertained to specifics of behavior, opinions, self-attitude (see Fig. 5 below).

Ответы на вопросы интервью – Answers to questions asked during interview Друзья – Friends Конфликты – Conflicts Переживание обид – Emotional response to offence Достижение целей любыми средствами – Achievement of purpose by any means Справедливость – Justice Порядочность – Honesty Умение хранить тайну – Ability to keep secrets Наличие травмирующих тем – Availability of traumatizing topics Реакция на критику – Response to criticism Периоды грусти – Melancholy periods Воля – Will Суррогатные мамы – Surrogate mothers Бездетные женщины – Childless women Женщины с 1-2 детьми – Women having 1 or 2 children Многодетные матери – Mothers of many children

Fig. 5. Specifics of behavior, opinions and self-attitude in answers asked during interview

It can be seen from Fig. 5 that the highest activity was displayed by the women having 1 or 2 children, as they told about their friends. This value is lower in respect of the surrogate mothers who admitted sometimes that they had not but just a few reliable friends or mentioned, instead, of their preference to deal with close relatives (their mothers, sisters, etc.).

At the same time, it's the surrogate mothers who are more aware of their ability to avoid conflicts. A potentiality of being involved in a conflict proved to be more evident as far as the childless women are concerned.

A lasting strong response to offences, "sore" subjects, a tendency for melancholy and depression proved to be more common for women who have not born children yet, while to the belief of the surrogate mothers such states are not rather typical for them.

The ethic questions enabled to reveal that the surrogate mothers proved to be the least inclined to accept the idea that "a purpose must be achieved by any means"; the women having 1 or 2 children also believe in justice rather strongly. However, the strongest belief in honesty and decency of people is displayed again by the surrogate mothers.

An ability to control oneself and keep a secret. demonstrate the power of will, disregard criticism is also most strongly displayed by the surrogate mothers among all other participants. Otherwise, they would, perhaps, hardly agree to participate in the surrogate motherhood project, which is rather complicated and relatively new for our country.

Some of the interview questions may not be expressed in any digital equivalent form and, therefore, we will simply make some mention of them below.

Hobbies and fascinations of the women belonging to the study groups proved to be rather diverse: they include in case of the surrogate mothers culinary, fancywork, amateur and folk arts, reading, walking tours, physical culture, viewing films, while as regards the childless women, the above list is supplemented by collecting hobbies, as regards the women having 1 or 2 children – puzzles, crosswords. etc., as regards the mothers of many children, their hobbies additionally include traveling, meeting people, care of flowers, animals. At the same time, one could often hear in the group of surrogate mothers that they spent all their free time on their children and, hence, children were their basic hobby and occupation.

When speaking about their plans for future, the surrogate mothers most often than the others did not make any mention of their career, family, traveling and self-actualization and, instead, spoke about their drive for improving their living conditions, making their children happy and comfortable, "raising" them up, having them well-educated and well-provided in life.

Therefore, the candidates who intend to play the role of a prenatal nurse proved to be in respect of many parameters more stable under the aspect of psychology, tolerant, ethic, conflict-free, having no tendency for hypochondria and exaggeration of problems, unlike the representatives of other "types" of maternal behavior. It would seem logical to assume that it is not too any easy for any women to agree to be involved in such responsible, risky, special and, sometimes, (regretfully) socially condemned activity. Only women possessing all essential qualities would, most probably, apply for such "job". That is why, our candidates have been found professionally fit.

See continuation (2) – Psychological Special Features of Character and (3) –Psychological Special Characteristics of Motives and Attractions

The article was prepared by:

Viktoriya Chuprinova, Director of Surrogate Motherhood Center

Viktoriya Tsokota, Bachelor of Psychology, Psychologist at Association of Mothers of Many Children (Large Families) "AMMA", Kiev district, Kharkov.

Elena Lutsenko , Candidate of Psychology, Psychologist at Surrogate Motherhood Center