ABSTRACT

Objectives

There has been an absence of research investigating if infertility and the utilisation of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) to conceive increases maternal perceptions of child vulnerability. The purpose of the current study was to assess if there were differences in maternal ratings of child vulnerability between first-time mothers who conceived using ART procedures and first-time mothers who conceived spontaneously.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was comprised of 171 first-time mothers who conceived using ART and 198 first-time mothers who conceived spontaneously. Study questionnaires were completed online via Qualtrics.

Results

Mothers who conceived using ART (Mean Vulnerable Child Scale Total Score = 43.85; SD = 9.65) endorsed greater perceptions of child vulnerability compared to mothers who conceived spontaneously (Mean Vulnerable Child Scale Total Score = 49.03; SD = 7.15; p < .001). In a hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis, the dichotomous variable that indicated maternal mode of conception (i.e. ART or spontaneous) was associated with the Vulnerable Child Scale Total Score (standardised beta coefficient = −.25; p < .001). Bivariate correlations revealed a small, negative correlation between using a donor sperm and/or egg and the Vulnerable Child Scale Total Score (r = −.21; p < .01).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that vulnerable child syndrome may be more likely to occur when mothers conceive using ART, particularly when a donor sperm and/or egg is utilised.

中文翻译：

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使用辅助生殖技术怀孕的初次母亲对儿童脆弱性的看法

摘要

目标

一直没有研究调查不孕不育和利用辅助生殖技术 (ART) 怀孕是否会增加母亲对儿童脆弱性的看法。本研究的目的是评估使用 ART 程序怀孕的初次母亲和自发怀孕的初次母亲对儿童脆弱性的母亲评级是否存在差异。

方法

这项横断面研究由 171 名使用 ART 首次怀孕的母亲和 198 名自然受孕的初次怀孕母亲组成。研究问卷通过 Qualtrics 在线完成。

结果

使用 ART 受孕的母亲（平均弱势儿童量表总分 = 43.85；SD = 9.65）与自然受孕的母亲相比（平均弱势儿童量表总分 = 49.03；SD = 7.15；p < .001）对儿童脆弱性的看法更高. 在分层多元线性回归分析中，表明母体受孕模式（即 ART 或自发）的二分变量与弱势儿童量表总分相关（标准化贝塔系数 = −.25；p < .001）。双变量相关性揭示了使用供体精子和/或卵子与弱势儿童量表总分之间的小的负相关性 (r = −.21; p < .01)。

结论

我们的研究结果表明，当母亲使用 ART 怀孕时，特别是当使用供体精子和/或卵子时，可能更容易发生易受伤害的儿童综合症。