Surrogacy Agency: Center "La Vita Felice"

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF SURROGATE MOTHERS AND WOMEN HAVING OTHER MATERNITY STATUS

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

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF SURROGATE MOTHERS AND WOMEN HAVING OTHER MATERNITY STATUS

Comparative analysis of surrogate mothers and women having other maternity status(2)

Psychological special features of character

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. (see "Comparative Analysis of Surrogate Mothers and Women Having Other Maternity Status (1)": Psychological characteristics of lifestyle, behavior and relationship)

This article reviews the results of testing the special features of character, which are typical for surrogate mothers, childless women, women having 1 or 2 children and women of many children.

The comparison of the evidence of characterological features can be illustrated most conveniently in the form of the chart (see Fig. 6).

Черты характера – Features of character
Т-баллы – T-points
Внимание к болезням – Attention to diseases
Пессимизм – Pessimism
Эмоциональная лабильность – Emotional instability
Импульсивность – Impulsivity
Мужественность – Manliness
Ригидность – Rigidity
Тревожность – Anxiety
Индивидуальность – Individuality
Гиперактивность – Hyperactivity
Замкнутость во внутреннем мире – Closeness in inner world
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. 6. Averaged profiles of expression of character features in groups, having different maternity status

The groups were compared basing on 10 classic features molding the typology of human characters. The character features were measured with the use of the so called T-points: the greater is the number of points, the more pronounced are the character deformations, which, should the 70-point limit be crossed, may express themselves in the form of severe mental and physiological disturbances, as well as in behavior adequacy disorders. Consequently, the smaller is the number of points, the better is the psychological condition of a person, the more balanced and harmonious is his or her character.

As it can be seen in Fug. 6, the lowest profile, i.e. the highest intensity of expression of character features is characteristic of the group of surrogate mothers. Particularly, their differ to advantage from other groups, as regards such features as attention to diseases, pessimism, emotional instability, impulsivity, rigidity, anxiety and individuality. Such features as manliness and closeness in the inner world are practically similar in all groups of surrogate mothers. As regards the "hyperactivity" feature, the average surrogate mother point practically matches the relevant point relating to the group of women having 1 or 2 children, but is lower (i.e. better) than in groups of childless women and women of many children.

What does such characterological profile configuration point to?

The fact that there is no tendency for point rising as regards the first scale ("Attention to diseases") proves that surrogate mothers are not disposed toward exaggerating their health problems, they are not inclined to complain on every occasion, or hurry to their doctor, or "bury" themselves in reference books on medicine. They feel good, which is not only the reason, but also the consequence of a certain psychological state. Hypochondriaс people get accustomed to solve their problems by letting themselves be "absorbed" by a disease and, thus, escaping from the need to solve a range of vital problems. They place the burden of responsibility for their life on physicians and relatives who take care of them, although they may even not be awake to this fact. In our case, such psychological type is absolutely alien to the nature of surrogate mothers.

The points corresponding to the second feature of character ("pessimism") are less than in other groups, which shows that surrogate mothers have no disposition to melancholy, depression and apathy.

A lower emotional instability, which is characteristic of the group of surrogate mothers suggests that changes in their mood are predictable, they are not anxious to manipulate other people, behave in a pompous and dramatized manner.

The "impulsivity" feature is much less pronounced in the group of surrogate mothers. If this feature is intensive, a person may exhibit signs of "explosive" character, irritation, take rash actions, succumb to sudden impulses.

A low "rigidity" feature point displays itself in a normal behavioral flexibility, ability not to become concentrated on any worries, unobtrusiveness, absence of excessive pedantry, stubbornness.

Needless to say that excessive anxiety and overanxiousness are completely out of place, as far as surrogate mothers are concerned. If the points are high on this scale, a person will display the signs of low energy, sluggishness, disposition to fears and self-restriction.

The excessive "individuality" feature may cause disposition to conflicts and unsociability, alienation of a person from the social medium, indifference to problems of other people, egoism, cynicism, eccentric behavior. Therefore, it is quite a positive factor that this feature is on a low level in the group of surrogate mothers.

The last feature, with regard to which the group of surrogate mothers differs from the groups of women of many children and childless women is the absence of excessive hyperactivity. This condition is found favorable, since an increase in the hyperactivity level may result in lack of seriousness, wasting one's strength on a number of fanciful projects and schemes, euphoria, (unmotivated joviality), underestimation of actual problems.

It can be concluded as a result that there exist no dangerous deformations in the characterological profile of surrogate mothers, which allows to make a favorable prediction as regards the fulfillment of obligations, which surrogate mothers assume.

See continuation (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.

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

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF SURROGATE MOTHERS AND WOMEN HAVING OTHER MATERNITY STATUS

Comparative analysis of surrogate mothers and women having other maternity status(3)

Psychological special characteristics of motives and attractions

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. (see "Comparative Analysis of Surrogate Mothers and Women Having Other Maternity Status (1)": Psychological characteristics of lifestyle, behavior and relationship) and "Comparative Analysis of Surrogate Mothers and Women Having Other Maternity Status (2)": Psychological special features of character).

Motives and attractions represent psychological features that drive and direct human behavior. The results of testing the base, genetically inheritable attractions were applied to the four groups of women for analysis purposes and presented in the form of the diagram (Figure 7).

Мотивы и влечения – Motives and attractions
Персональная любовь – Personal love
Гуманизм – Humanism
Активность – Activity
Пассивность – Passivity
Черты "Авеля" – "Abel" features
Черты "Каина" – "Cain" features
Тщеславие – Vanity
Застенчивость – Shyness
Формирование идеалов – Generation of ideals
Обесценивание потребностей – Devaluation of requirements
Противоречивость – Inconsistency
Приписывание – Attribution
Изменчивость – Variability
Инертность – Inertness
Привязанность – Affection
Разрыв – Break-off
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. 7. Base attractions power averaged according to groups of different maternity status

The above-mentioned attractions represent the leading life motives forming the features of human life scenarios, i.e. performing, to a certain degree, the vital functions. As shown in the diagram, each of the eight base attractions can manifest itself in the two different ways and form sixteen subattractions. Therefore, we prefer to submit them to analysis in pairs with each pair being treated as one base attraction.

The first pair represents the attractions to love, or Eros-attractions. They express themselves in personal love and tenderness (felt in respect of an individual person) or fondness for people, humanism. As shown in the diagram, the orientation on personal love is the prevailing feature of all groups, which is, however, is not so pronounced in the group of surrogate mothers. Thus, as regards surrogate mothers, personal love and fondness for people appear more balanced.

The next attraction is associated with the energy and manliness-femininity of people. As regards surrogate mothers, feminine passivity prevails over manly activity. It is of interest to note that the same relationship concerned with this attraction is typical for women who have not given birth to babies yet. The groups of women having 1 or 2 children and mothers of many children display quite the opposite combination with their activity prevailing over their passivity.

The next base attraction reflects the struggle between good and evil in a human being. Good, honesty, decency, altruism are the "Abel" tendencies, while evil, cruelty, envy, jealousy, egoism are the "Cain" tendencies. It is shown by the diagram that as applied to surrogate mothers, the tendency for good prevails slightly. The more significant prevalence of "Abel" tendencies is evident in the group of childless women.

The fourth base requirement is the requirement in public behavior, which can be displayed either in the forms of demonstrativeness, vanity, publicity, or in the forms of shyness, diffidence, liability to fear. The state of these two tendencies is practically balanced in the group of surrogate mothers.

The firth requirement is the requirement in self-restraint, self-control, adapting for reality. It is subdivided into а) the tendency for appropriation, generation of idealized images of people and objects, which can be taken possession of; and b) the tendency for refusing every pleasure, suppressing oneself, depreciating one's requirements of type "I don't need anything." It can be seen that prevailing in all groups is category b), i.e. generation of realistic requirements, a tendency for self-restriction. It's notable that as regards the group of surrogate mothers, the tendency for sacrificing one's idealistic plans and interests is rather pronounced.

The sixth base attraction is expressed by the requirement in self-actualization, the need to assert oneself in this world, be successful. This requirement can assume the following forms: а) conscious struggle for one's success, generation of the ideal of oneself, the state of being obsessed by conflicting desires to "have everything and immediately"; b) unconscious attribution of one's desires, anxieties and methods of behavior to other people (thus, for example, a dishonest person suspects everybody in dishonesty, a liar suggests that all people lie, an envious person believes that everybody should envy him or her, a social climber is sure that the only ambition of all people around is to hold high posts, etc.). The diagram shows that, to a larger extent, the open motivation for success and accomplishment and, to a smaller extent, unconscious attribution of one's claims to other people are the attributes of all groups. As compared to other groups, surrogate mothers show a moderate intensity of this attraction.

The seventh base attraction is characterized by the requirement in search, acquisition and attachment. This attraction expresses itself in the following forms: а) the tendency for acquisition and change-making; b) the tendency for maintenance of steadiness, the state of inertia. In cases where the change-making requirement prevails people are more progressive and radical, they are more ready to change their social environment (make new acquaintances, friends), property, profession. If the other requirement prevails, people appear to be more conservative, cautious, they have their heart set on the desire to prevent everything they have (people, things, habits and abilities, manner of behavior) from being lost. Such people can be described as "keepers of traditions." The results of our comparative study show that the second form of this attraction, i.e. the tendency for preserving things in their possession, prevails in all groups of women. This tendency is more pronounced in the group of surrogate mothers than in other groups.

As a matter of fact, such distribution of above-mentioned psychological distinctive features is quite logical, considering the social, economic and political conditions that have existed in our country during the last 15-17 years. A high degree of stability, reliability and predictability has not been the feature of our life since long time ago, and, hence, the requirement in steadiness and invariability is, in essence, adaptive under the current conditions. People who live in the problem-free USA or developed European countries and have complete confidence in their everlasting welfare and prosperity may look forward to every possible change and not be afraid of certain losses. The stability requirement displayed by surrogate mothers is more pronounced owing to hardships they may experience in their life. They often find themselves in a state of divorce, with small children "in their arms", experience living problems, live in rural areas or district centers. Hence, any drastic changes that may happen to them would be still more unsafe. It's essential to them not to lose at least what they have.

The last base attraction is traced to the need for attachment to, or breaking-off relations with certain people of importance. These are the two forms assumed by the base attraction: either steady attachment to the objects of love (parents, children, a partner), or, to the contrary, the tendency for changing the existing relationship, the need to break off any, most frequently destructive or exhausted social relations.

The first tendency that prevails in all groups can be seen in the diagram. This is the tendency for attachment, maintenance of relations, which is displayed most expressly in the group of surrogate mothers as the most urgent requirement expressed by surrogate mothers themselves and the highest peak of the entire diagram. This tendency is also the strongest one, as compared to other groups. That is, it is up to its maximum both in respect of the absolute and relative value.

Such a situation can be explained by analogy and preceding attraction to making changes and maintenance (as a matter of fact, both attractions belong to the common group of contact attractions). The existence of attachment to people of importance represents the vital, sense-generating condition for surrogate mothers, enabling them to "stay afloat", feel the meaning and the reason of their lives and cherish hopes for the better in a rather bleak situation they were driven in by life. As they raise their little children and get ready for carrying another, more intricate surrogate pregnancy, surrogate mothers treasure their affection towards their family and friends, and, what is the most important, are prepared to fight through any serious trouble in order to be able to breach a vicious circle of hopelessness, overcrowding and an inadequate education level, strive for a better life for themselves and their children.

Considering the above, one automatically makes the conclusion below. It is shown by the impartial and detail comparative analysis of the women getting ready to carry babies for infertile couples that, on the one hand, they are just like other Ukrainian young women belonging to the same age category, having their own accomplishments and problems, joys and difficulties. The only difference is that they, due to their adequate fertility (reproductive performance) that was granted to them either by nature or God, have made a decision to resolve their rather intricate life situation (a low material level, living and family problems) in their own way, i.e. by helping children – their own children and those still to be born.

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.

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

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