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The surrogacy experience: a survey of psychosocial impacts on gestational carriers.

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Title: The surrogacy experience: a survey of psychosocial impacts on gestational carriers.
Authors: Pawlak, S. A. (AUTHOR), Sami, S. (AUTHOR), Thomas, E. B. K. (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Reproductive & Infant Psychology. Jul2026, Vol. 44 Issue 4, p1040-1051. 12p.
Subjects: Parents, Cross-sectional method, Self-evaluation, Altruism, Income, Satisfaction, Surrogate motherhood, Questionnaires, Scientific observation, Surrogate mothers, Family relations, Motivation (Psychology), Surveys, Prenatal care, Research methodology, Communication, Quality of life, Fertility clinics, Interpersonal relations, Social support, Pregnancy complications, Psychosocial factors, Self-perception, Child behavior
Geographic Terms: Canada, United States
Abstract: Aims/Background: Surrogacy is a complex endeavour, with various medical, legal, financial, interpersonal, and emotional impacts. This study examines surrogacy from the Gestational Carrier (GC)'s viewpoint, with attention paid to motivation, relationship with Intended Parents, and the short- and long-term impacts to self and family members. Design/Method: Fertility clinic patients who carried a pregnancy for other person(s) at least one time were asked by the clinic health psychologist via letter to complete anonymous online/written survey data about their experiences. Data were gathered using a 49-item self-report questionnaire with collection occurring between January 4-March 1, 2019. Results: 28 GCs responded, with last surrogacy ranging from current time (pregnant at time of survey completion) to 5.5 years prior. 93% of respondents were white and 78.5% were married/partnered, with a median age of 33.8 years and median number of own children being 2.6. Most carried 1–2 surrogate pregnancies. Subjects reported primarily altruistic reasons for engaging in surrogacy though 25% also endorsed monetary compensation as being important. GCs largely viewed the surrogacy experience favourably, with positive impacts to self-concept, partner relationships, and children, and reported generally positive interactions with Intended Parents. Almost 70% of GCs worked with a surrogacy agency, and about one-third of these found the relationship to be beneficial. Conclusion: This study supports existing research indicating that surrogacy is generally satisfactory to the parties involved with few negative outcomes. A description of GCs' experiences with surrogacy agencies, seldom examined in previous literature, adds valuable insights. GCs' qualitative comments enhance the quantitative data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Reproductive & Infant Psychology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
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Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: The surrogacy experience: a survey of psychosocial impacts on gestational carriers.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Pawlak%2C+S%2E+A%2E%22">Pawlak, S. A.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sami%2C+S%2E%22">Sami, S.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Thomas%2C+E%2E+B%2E+K%2E%22">Thomas, E. B. K.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Reproductive+%26+Infant+Psychology%22">Journal of Reproductive & Infant Psychology</searchLink>. Jul2026, Vol. 44 Issue 4, p1040-1051. 12p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Parents%22">Parents</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cross-sectional+method%22">Cross-sectional method</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self-evaluation%22">Self-evaluation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Altruism%22">Altruism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Income%22">Income</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Satisfaction%22">Satisfaction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Surrogate+motherhood%22">Surrogate motherhood</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Questionnaires%22">Questionnaires</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Scientific+observation%22">Scientific observation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Surrogate+mothers%22">Surrogate mothers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Family+relations%22">Family relations</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Motivation+%28Psychology%29%22">Motivation (Psychology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Surveys%22">Surveys</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Prenatal+care%22">Prenatal care</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+methodology%22">Research methodology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Communication%22">Communication</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Quality+of+life%22">Quality of life</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Fertility+clinics%22">Fertility clinics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interpersonal+relations%22">Interpersonal relations</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+support%22">Social support</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pregnancy+complications%22">Pregnancy complications</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychosocial+factors%22">Psychosocial factors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self-perception%22">Self-perception</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+behavior%22">Child behavior</searchLink>
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  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Canada%22">Canada</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+States%22">United States</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Aims/Background: Surrogacy is a complex endeavour, with various medical, legal, financial, interpersonal, and emotional impacts. This study examines surrogacy from the Gestational Carrier (GC)'s viewpoint, with attention paid to motivation, relationship with Intended Parents, and the short- and long-term impacts to self and family members. Design/Method: Fertility clinic patients who carried a pregnancy for other person(s) at least one time were asked by the clinic health psychologist via letter to complete anonymous online/written survey data about their experiences. Data were gathered using a 49-item self-report questionnaire with collection occurring between January 4-March 1, 2019. Results: 28 GCs responded, with last surrogacy ranging from current time (pregnant at time of survey completion) to 5.5 years prior. 93% of respondents were white and 78.5% were married/partnered, with a median age of 33.8 years and median number of own children being 2.6. Most carried 1–2 surrogate pregnancies. Subjects reported primarily altruistic reasons for engaging in surrogacy though 25% also endorsed monetary compensation as being important. GCs largely viewed the surrogacy experience favourably, with positive impacts to self-concept, partner relationships, and children, and reported generally positive interactions with Intended Parents. Almost 70% of GCs worked with a surrogacy agency, and about one-third of these found the relationship to be beneficial. Conclusion: This study supports existing research indicating that surrogacy is generally satisfactory to the parties involved with few negative outcomes. A description of GCs' experiences with surrogacy agencies, seldom examined in previous literature, adds valuable insights. GCs' qualitative comments enhance the quantitative data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Reproductive & Infant Psychology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=194783079
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/02646838.2025.2472873
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 12
        StartPage: 1040
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Parents
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cross-sectional method
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Self-evaluation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Altruism
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Income
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Satisfaction
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Surrogate motherhood
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Questionnaires
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Scientific observation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Surrogate mothers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Family relations
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Motivation (Psychology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Surveys
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Prenatal care
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research methodology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Communication
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Quality of life
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Fertility clinics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Interpersonal relations
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social support
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Pregnancy complications
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychosocial factors
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Self-perception
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Child behavior
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Canada
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: United States
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: The surrogacy experience: a survey of psychosocial impacts on gestational carriers.
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            NameFull: Pawlak, S. A.
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            NameFull: Sami, S.
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            NameFull: Thomas, E. B. K.
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            – D: 01
              M: 07
              Text: Jul2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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