The Psychology of PCOS Building the Science and Breaking the Silence

by Williams, Stacey L.

• ISBN13: 9781433837760
• ISBN10: 1433837765
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2023-02-28
• Publisher: American Psychological Association

Summary

The Psychology of PCOS combines cutting-edge psychological and social science research with compelling personal stories to provide a roadmap for researchers and mental health providers.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can cause a wide range of symptoms, both physical and psychological. PCOS can cause menstrual irregularities, infertility, insulin resistance, excess and male patterned body hair, and is strongly associated with depression and anxiety. PCOS affects everything from one’s self-conception and identity, to social relationships, intimacy and sexuality, to physical and mental health. Yet the literature has been largely silent regarding the personal and psychosocial experiences of those with PCOS.

Using clear and compelling language, the author promotes a wider understanding of PCOS, calls attention to areas of research need, offers insight to mental health providers whose clients suffer from PCOS, and aims to inspire more positive outcomes for individuals with PCOS.

Author Biography

Stacey L. Williams, PhD, is a social-health psychologist and professor in the Department of Psychology at East Tennessee State University (ETSU). She directs the Social Issues and Relations Laboratory in which she and her students study stigma and health. She has published dozens of articles in this area and her research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health. She teaches courses in topics related to diversity, gender and sexuality, and research methods and statistics. Currently she serves as the chair of the campus Institutional Review Board. Recent accomplishments include membership in the Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology (LIWP) and awards for both her research and equity and inclusion work: ETSU College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Research Award, Hayward Outstanding Psychology Faculty Award, Notable Woman Award, and the Patricia E. Robertson Diversity Leadership Award. Prior to her professorship, she earned her PhD in psychology at Kent State University and completed a postdoctoral research fellowship in social environment and health at the Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan.  

Table of Contents

Dedication
Series Foreword
Acknowledgements
Preface: A Note to the Reader
Introduction: Why We Need a Psychological Science of PCOS and What This Book Does
Chapter 1: Breaking the Cultural Silence: An Overview of PCOS
Chapter 2: PCOS Stigma: One Diagnosis but Multiple Stigmas
Chapter 3: Gendered Embodiment of PCOS
Chapter 4: Social Support and Close Relationships in PCOS Context
Chapter 5: Psychological Risk and Growth in Individuals with PCOS
Chapter 6: Health Risks and Inadequate PCOS Healthcare Resources
Chapter 7: A PCOS Call to Action: Interventions, Advocacy, and Psychological Science
References 
Appendix A 
Appendix B 
Index 
About the Author