Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Economics / Lance J. Bachmeier / This dissertation investigates the long run and short run relationships between Saudi stock market returns and eight macroeconomic variables. We investigate the ability of these variables to predict the level and volatility of Saudi stock market returns. A wide range of Vector autoregression (VAR) and generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) models estimated and interpreted. A Johansen-Juselius cointegration test indicates a positive long run relationship between the Saudi stock price index and the M2 money supply, bank credit, and the price of oil, and a negative long run relationship with the M1 money supply, the short term interest rate, inflation, and the U.S. stock market. An estimated vector error correction model (VECM) suggests significant unidirectional short run causal relationships between Saudi stock market returns and the money supply and inflation. The VECM also finds a significant long run causal relationship among the macroeconomic variables in the system. The estimated speed of adjustment indicates that the Saudi stock market converges to the equilibrium within half a year. Granger causality tests show no causal relationship between Saudi stock market returns and the exchange rate. Impulse response function analysis shows no significant relationship between Saudi stock market returns and the macroeconomic variables. Forecast error variance decompositions suggest that 89% of the variation in Saudi stock market returns is attributable to its own shock, which implies that Saudi stock market returns are largely independent of the macroeconomic variables in the system. Finally, a GARCH-X model indicates a significant relationship between volatility of Saudi stock returns and short run movements of macroeconomic variables. Implications of this study include the following. (i) Prediction of stock market returns becomes more difficult as the volatility of the macroeconomic variables increases in the short run. (ii) Investors should look at the systematic risks revealed by these macroeconomic variables when structuring their portfolios and diversification strategies. (iii) Policymakers should seek to minimize macroeconomic fluctuations considering the effect of macroeconomic variables changes on the stock market when formulating economic policy.

Foreign trade is increasingly becoming a powerful tool when it comes to the promotion of economic growth in modern economies. This is especially so in the face of the continued rise of globalisation. In consideration of this fact, this thesis assessed the impact of foreign trade on the growth process of Namibia’s economy for the period stretching from 1990 to 2012. This main objective was further developed into primary, theoretical and empirical objectives. In order to realise these multiple objectives, two modern econometric time series techniques were employed, namely vector autoregressive (VAR) and auto-regression distributed lag (ARDL) models. Based on these two techniques, the following procedures featured during the study: Stationary tests, error correction modelling, co-integration tests, Granger causality tests, generalised impulse response functions and generalised forecast error variance decomposition. The following constitutes the main findings arising from this study: First, the study found that there is a positive relationship among the variables that were investigated. Indeed, this positive relationship suggests that the economy of Namibia can be expanded potentially by means of foreign trade. The result is also in line with economic theory. Secondly, the empirical findings also show that export, foreign direct investment and exchange rate endogenously respond to shocks in economic growth. Thirdly, economic growth itself accounted for most of the innovations that occurred during the period under consideration concerning economic growth. Fourthly, amongst the three explanatory variables used in the model, exports and foreign direct investment contributed more towards innovations in economic growth during the forecast period. Initially, exports and foreign direct investment dominated over the forecast horizon with each contributing almost an equal share of over 5 percent after 12 quarters. Thereafter, exports’ contribution relatively exceeded that of foreign direct investment. Fifthly, it is particularly important to note that the exchange rate variable made the weakest contribution towards explaining economic growth for the forecast period of 24 quarters. In consideration of the general constraints associated with this study, the thesis puts forward a number of proposals for possible further investigation by any theorist who is keen about probing the issue that the thesis investigated. The thesis considers the following as its significant contributions to the existing literature: First, this study primarily examined the relationship between exports and economic growth. By adding the effect of foreign direct investment and exchange rate to the analysis, this study became more comprehensive. This further widens the scope for policymaking for Namibia, as well as other developing economies on a similar route. Secondly, the study employed two modern econometric time series techniques, namely VAR and ARDL models in investigating the research topic under consideration. Most of the related studies that were reviewed either utilised ordinary least squares (OLS) or VAR or ARDL approach on its own. By implication, the results obtained from this study, therefore, are from a technical point of view more robust. Thirdly, through constructive comments, this thesis made valuable contributions to the relevant empirical literature as reviewed during the course of the study. Fourthly, since this study has a focus on Namibia, it provided the opportunity for the thesis to present a comprehensive analysis on issues pertaining to Namibia specifically. Lastly, the various recommendations put forward by this thesis will assist Namibia, as well as other developing countries, on a related path when it comes to formulating policies for the promotion of exports in particular and economic growth in general. / PhD (Economics)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2015.

Foreign trade is increasingly becoming a powerful tool when it comes to the promotion of economic growth in modern economies. This is especially so in the face of the continued rise of globalisation. In consideration of this fact, this thesis assessed the impact of foreign trade on the growth process of Namibia’s economy for the period stretching from 1990 to 2012. This main objective was further developed into primary, theoretical and empirical objectives. In order to realise these multiple objectives, two modern econometric time series techniques were employed, namely vector autoregressive (VAR) and auto-regression distributed lag (ARDL) models. Based on these two techniques, the following procedures featured during the study: Stationary tests, error correction modelling, co-integration tests, Granger causality tests, generalised impulse response functions and generalised forecast error variance decomposition. The following constitutes the main findings arising from this study: First, the study found that there is a positive relationship among the variables that were investigated. Indeed, this positive relationship suggests that the economy of Namibia can be expanded potentially by means of foreign trade. The result is also in line with economic theory. Secondly, the empirical findings also show that export, foreign direct investment and exchange rate endogenously respond to shocks in economic growth. Thirdly, economic growth itself accounted for most of the innovations that occurred during the period under consideration concerning economic growth. Fourthly, amongst the three explanatory variables used in the model, exports and foreign direct investment contributed more towards innovations in economic growth during the forecast period. Initially, exports and foreign direct investment dominated over the forecast horizon with each contributing almost an equal share of over 5 percent after 12 quarters. Thereafter, exports’ contribution relatively exceeded that of foreign direct investment. Fifthly, it is particularly important to note that the exchange rate variable made the weakest contribution towards explaining economic growth for the forecast period of 24 quarters. In consideration of the general constraints associated with this study, the thesis puts forward a number of proposals for possible further investigation by any theorist who is keen about probing the issue that the thesis investigated. The thesis considers the following as its significant contributions to the existing literature: First, this study primarily examined the relationship between exports and economic growth. By adding the effect of foreign direct investment and exchange rate to the analysis, this study became more comprehensive. This further widens the scope for policymaking for Namibia, as well as other developing economies on a similar route. Secondly, the study employed two modern econometric time series techniques, namely VAR and ARDL models in investigating the research topic under consideration. Most of the related studies that were reviewed either utilised ordinary least squares (OLS) or VAR or ARDL approach on its own. By implication, the results obtained from this study, therefore, are from a technical point of view more robust. Thirdly, through constructive comments, this thesis made valuable contributions to the relevant empirical literature as reviewed during the course of the study. Fourthly, since this study has a focus on Namibia, it provided the opportunity for the thesis to present a comprehensive analysis on issues pertaining to Namibia specifically. Lastly, the various recommendations put forward by this thesis will assist Namibia, as well as other developing countries, on a related path when it comes to formulating policies for the promotion of exports in particular and economic growth in general. / PhD (Economics)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2015.

自從中國實施經濟改革之後，其經濟快速成長。從1978到2002年之間，中國的年平均成長率為8.07﹪。但同時期，中國的不平等卻顯示不同的變動趨勢。在1980年代，經濟改革似乎同時促進經濟成長與不平等程度的下降。然而1990年代之後，不平等卻呈現向上爬升的趨勢。本論文的研究目的，即是探討改革後，中國經濟成長與不平等間的因果關係。 根據之前的文獻，經濟成長和不平等之間可能相互影響，但影響方向卻不確定。本論文研究方法採用Granger因果檢定，估計成長與分配的因果關係以及影響方向。本研究採用Toda and Yamamoto (1995)所提出的向量自迴歸程序，對Granger因果模型進行卡方檢定的統計推論。Toda和Yamamoto證明，研究者能夠估計一個k+dmax階的向量自迴歸模型，其中dmax是時間數列變數最大整合階數，k為落差期數。然而，進行統計推論時，研究者只需利用卡方統計量檢驗前k階的迴歸係數是否顯著，而不需檢驗最後的dmax階迴歸係數。利用此研究方法，本論文發現以下結果：一、經濟成長會正面且顯著地影響不平等；二、不平等不會影響到經濟成長；三、實證結果是穩健的，其不因使用不同的所得不平等指數或落差期數而有所變化。 會產生第一種結果的主要原因，在於中央政府傾斜政策的實施。與先前文獻完全集中研究自由經濟或計畫經濟不同，中國經濟正處於轉型過程，可能是本研究不能發現所得不均等對經濟成長的主要因素。 本研究的政策意涵為，由於經濟持續增長，使得不均等的情況更加惡化。因此，中央政府應該取消向東部沿海傾斜的政策，並且增加對中西部地區進行投資的意願。但是，將資源投入在中西部，使得到的收益遠遠小於投入在東部者。因此為了促進持續經濟成長，不建議採取某些能迅速降低不平等的政策，例如財政移轉。 / Ever since economic reform has been carried out in China, its economic growth rate has been remarkable. Its annual growth rate of per capita GDP was about 8.07% for the period 1978-2002, but its income inequality level presented a different moving trend during this time. In the 1980s, it seemed that economic reform decreased this inequality successfully, but the situation of income distribution started to deteriorate beginning in 1990. The purpose of this study is to research if the relationship between economic growth and inequality exists in post-reform China. According to previous literature, economic growth and inequality can influence each other, but their influential directions are uncertain. This study adopts the Granger-causality test as a methodology to estimate their relationship and influential directions. This study tests Granger-Causality with the chi-square statistic, which was proposed by Toda and Yamamoto (1995). They wrote that researchers could estimate a (k+dmax)th-order VAR where dmax is the maximal order of integration. Only the first k coefficients have to be jointly tested with the chi-square statistic, and the last dmax coefficients are ignored. This study finds the following results: (i) growth positively influences inequality; (ii) inequality does not influence growth; and (iii) the results are sturdy no matter what inequality index or what lag lengths are used in the empirical test. The result (i) can be attributed to the biased central government policy. Differencing from previous studies, which focused on democratic or undemocratic economies, this study researches a transitional economy. It could be the reason why this study finds no evidence of the effect of inequality on growth. The policy implications of this study are that China’s government has to give up biased policies and increase the incentives of investing in inland regions. Besides, in order to promote sustainable economic growth, some policies like fiscal transfers, which can reduce inequality quickly, are not recommended.

Prodromes of schizophrenia or prodromes of psychosis are a relatively new and expanding field of interest in psychiatric research. They are seen by some researchers as the initial symptom of having schizophrenia and have become a crucial topic in early psychosis research and intervention. In this thesis current psychiatric research publications were analysed and eleven prospectively psychotic patients were interviewed. The research publications analysed were applyed on the information given by the patients, and the analysis showed that it was easy to find prodromes or prodrome-like phenomena in all the collected interviews. In addition a second analysis was performed on the material, a phenomenological psychological analysis, showing a more subject-oriented dimension of the interviews. This led to a further aim, analysing what explanations could be given of these phenomena. There are probably many possibilities of getting the diagnosis of schizophrenia, but the examples in this study show that long-term abuse, often sexual actually can trigger psychiatric conditions corresponding to the definition of “prodromes of schizophrenia” according to some psychiatric publications as well as “schizophrenia” according to DSM and ICD. This means that trauma and/or neglect proved to be a likely partial causal condition of the prodrome- like phenomena or schizophrenia to occur. However, trauma has not been shown to be a necessary condition for the occurrence of prodrome-like phenomena or schizophrenia. In the discussion of the results some consequences deriving from using different interpretations and explanations of the phenomena are analysed, for example using the prodromes of psychosis for the assessments of a coming psychosis, especially schizophrenia. I emphasize, because of the results of the phenomenological case analyses, the value of several dimensions of understanding prodrome-like phenomena as well as schizophrenia and schizophrenia-like conditions, especially as early as the initial phase. / Prodromalfasen till schizofreni är ett relativt nytt begrepp och det utgör ett expanderande intresseområde för psykiatrisk forskning. Förändringar i prodromalfasen ses av vissa forskare som de första tecknen på schizofreni, och dessa fenomen har kommit i fokus speciellt vad gäller tidig upptäckt och intervention inom schizofreniforskning. I denna avhandling analyseras åtskilliga psykiatriska texter som behandlar prodromalfasens fenomen. I den empiriska studien har elva personer, som senare utvecklat psykotiska symtom, intervjuats.  Två etablerade listor på prodromalfenomen testades på det empiriska materialet. Resultaten av den analysen visade att de gick att finna prodromalliknande fenomen hos alla intervjuade patienter. En andra fenomenologisk och mer subjektorienterad analys av det empiriska materialet genomfördes parallellt. Resultaten av de två analyserna ledde till ett tredje fokus för avhandlingen, nämligen frågan om möjliga kausalförklaringar till de prodromalliknande fenomenen. Det finns förmodligen många orsaker till att en person uppvisar symtom som överensstämmer med diagnosen schizofreni. Exemplen i denna studie visar dock att långvariga, ofta sexuella, övergrepp kan leda till psykiatriska tillstånd som överensstämmer med fenomen i prodromalfasen och med själva diagnosen schizofreni enligt kriterierna i DSM-IV och ICD-10. Avhandlingens huvudhypotes är således att svåra trauman utgör delorsaker både till prodromalliknande fenomen liksom till tillstånd som diagnosticerats som schizofreni. Avhandlingens resultat ger dock ingen anledning att anta att trauman utgör nödvändiga betingelser för schizofreni. I avhandlingens resultatdiskussion lyfter författaren fram några viktiga konsekvenser av olika definitioner av begreppen prodromalfenomen och schizofreni bl a vad avser förslag till terapeutiska interventioner. Mot bakgrund av resultaten från den fenomenologiska analysen understryks vikten av en bred förståelse av prodromalliknande fenomen liksom av fenomen som diagnosticeras som schizofreni.

La douleur est une expérience perceptive comportant de nombreuses dimensions. Ces dimensions de douleur sont inter-reliées et recrutent des réseaux neuronaux qui traitent les informations correspondantes. L’élucidation de l'architecture fonctionnelle qui supporte les différents aspects perceptifs de l'expérience est donc une étape fondamentale pour notre compréhension du rôle fonctionnel des différentes régions de la matrice cérébrale de la douleur dans les circuits corticaux qui sous tendent l'expérience subjective de la douleur. Parmi les diverses régions du cerveau impliquées dans le traitement de l'information nociceptive, le cortex somatosensoriel primaire et secondaire (S1 et S2) sont les principales régions généralement associées au traitement de l'aspect sensori-discriminatif de la douleur. Toutefois, l'organisation fonctionnelle dans ces régions somato-sensorielles n’est pas complètement claire et relativement peu d'études ont examiné directement l'intégration de l'information entre les régions somatiques sensorielles. Ainsi, plusieurs questions demeurent concernant la relation hiérarchique entre S1 et S2, ainsi que le rôle fonctionnel des connexions inter-hémisphériques des régions somatiques sensorielles homologues. De même, le traitement en série ou en parallèle au sein du système somatosensoriel constitue un autre élément de questionnement qui nécessite un examen plus approfondi. Le but de la présente étude était de tester un certain nombre d'hypothèses sur la causalité dans les interactions fonctionnelle entre S1 et S2, alors que les sujets recevaient des chocs électriques douloureux. Nous avons mis en place une méthode de modélisation de la connectivité, qui utilise une description de causalité de la dynamique du système, afin d'étudier les interactions entre les sites d'activation définie par un ensemble de données provenant d'une étude d'imagerie fonctionnelle. Notre paradigme est constitué de 3 session expérimentales en utilisant des chocs électriques à trois différents niveaux d’intensité, soit modérément douloureux (niveau 3), soit légèrement douloureux (niveau 2), soit complètement non douloureux (niveau 1). Par conséquent, notre paradigme nous a permis d'étudier comment l'intensité du stimulus est codé dans notre réseau d'intérêt, et comment la connectivité des différentes régions est modulée dans les conditions de stimulation différentes. Nos résultats sont en faveur du mode sériel de traitement de l’information somatosensorielle nociceptive avec un apport prédominant de la voie thalamocorticale vers S1 controlatérale au site de stimulation. Nos résultats impliquent que l'information se propage de S1 controlatéral à travers notre réseau d'intérêt composé des cortex S1 bilatéraux et S2. Notre analyse indique que la connexion S1→S2 est renforcée par la douleur, ce qui suggère que S2 est plus élevé dans la hiérarchie du traitement de la douleur que S1, conformément aux conclusions précédentes neurophysiologiques et de magnétoencéphalographie. Enfin, notre analyse fournit des preuves de l'entrée de l'information somatosensorielle dans l'hémisphère controlatéral au côté de stimulation, avec des connexions inter-hémisphériques responsable du transfert de l'information à l'hémisphère ipsilatéral. / Pain is a perceptual experience comprising many dimensions. These pain dimensions interrelate with each other and recruit neuronal networks that process the corresponding information. Elucidating the functional architecture that supports different perceptual aspects of the experience is thus, a fundamental step to our understanding of the functional role of different regions in the cerebral pain matrix that are involved in the cortical circuitry underlying the subjective experience of pain. Among various brain regions involved in the processing of nociceptive information, primary and secondary somatosensory cortices (S1 and S2) are the main areas generally associated with the processing of sensory-discriminative aspect of pain. However the functional organization in these somatosensory areas is not completely clear and relatively few studies have directly examined the integration of information among somatic sensory regions. Thus, several questions remain regarding the hierarchical relationship between S1 and S2, as well as the functional role of the inter-hemispheric connections of the homologous somatic sensory areas. Likewise, the question of serial or parallel processing within the somatosensory system is another questionable issue that requires further investigation. The purpose of the present study was to test a number of causal hypotheses regarding the functional interactions between S1 and S2, while subjects were receiving painful electric shocks. We implemented a connectivity modeling approach, which utilizes a causal description of system dynamics, in order to study the interactions among activation sites defined by a data set derived from a functional imaging study. Our paradigm consists of 3 experimental scans using electric shock stimuli, with the stimulus intensity changing from moderately painful (level 3), to slightly painful (level 2), and to completely non-painful (level 1) during the final scan. Therefore our paradigm allowed us to investigate how stimulus intensity is encoded within our network of interest, and how the connectivity of the different regions is modulated across the different stimulus conditions. Our result is in favor of serial mode of somatosensory processing with thalamocortical input to S1 contralateral to stimulation site. Thus our results implicates that pain information is propogated from S1 contralateral through our network of interest comprising of bilateral S1 and S2. Our analysis indicates that S1→S2 connection is modulated by pain, which suggests that S2 is higher on the hierarchy of pain processing than S1, in accordance with previous neurophysiological and MEG findings. Lastly, our analysis provides evidence for the entrance of somatosensory information into the hemisphere contralateral to the stimulation side, with inter-hemispheric connections responsible for the transfer of information to the ipsilateral hemisphere.

This dissertation defends the so-called 'agency-approach' to causation, which attempts to ground the causal relation in the cause's role of being a means to bring about its effect. The defence is confined to a conceptual interpretation of this theory, pertaining to the concept of causation as it appears in a causal judgement. However, causal judgements are not seen as limited to specific domains, and they are not exclusively attributed to human agents alone. As a methodological framework to describe the different perspectives of causal judgments, a method taken from the philosophy of information is made use of - the so-called 'method of abstraction'. According to this method, levels of abstraction are devised for the subjective perspective of the acting agent, for the agent as observer during the observation of other agents' actions, and for the agent that judges efficient causation. As a further piece of propaedeutic work, a class of similar (yet not agency-centred) approaches to causation is considered, and their modelling paradigms - Bayesian networks and interventions objectively construed - will be criticised. The dissertation then proceeds to the defence of the agency-approach, the first part of which is a defence against the objection of conceptual circularity, which holds that agency analyses causation in causal terms. While the circularity-objection is rebutted, I rely at that stage on a set of subjective concepts, i.e. concepts that are eligible to the description of the agent's own experience while performing actions. In order to give a further, positive corroboration of the agency-approach, an investigation into the natural origins and constraints of the concept of agency is made in the central chapter six of the dissertation. The thermodynamic account developed in that part affords a third-person perspective on actions, which has as its core element a cybernetic feedback cycle. At that point, the stage is set to analyse the relation between the first- and the third-person perspectives on actions previously assumed. A dual-aspect interpretation of the cybernetic-thermodynamic picture developed in chapter six will be directly applied to the levels of abstraction proposed earlier. The level of abstraction that underpins judgments of efficient causation, the kind of causation seemingly devoid of agency, will appear as a derived scheme produced by and dependent on the concept of agency. This account of efficient causation, the 'objectification of agency', affords the rebuttal of a second objection against the agency-approach, which claims that the approach is inappropriately anthropomorphic. The dissertation concludes with an account of single-case, or token level, causation, and with an examination of the impact of the causal concept on the validity of causal models.

This thesis explores the price determinants of Bitcoin using a macroeconomic model based on the economic equation of exchange presented by Joseph Wang (2014). The thesis provides a concise and structured introduction to Bitcoin and a comprehensive literature review on Bitcoin. The analysis begins with the application of the functions of money to Bitcoin, arguing that while Bitcoin does fulfill the three classical functions of money to a certain extent, its use remains mainly as a speculative instrument. Wang's model is criticized and amended to reflect the realities of empirically analyzing the Bitcoin market. Using the daily number of transactions and Bitcoin days destroyed as proxies for economic activity and inactivity - to measure Bitcoin's velocity on the block chain - vector autoregression modelling is used to determine if there is Granger causality between the price of bitcoin and the two proxies. The results demonstrate that there is a bidirectional Granger-causal relationship between Bitcoin days destroyed and the price of bitcoin and that there is none between the daily number of transactions and the price of bitcoin; proving Wang's two main assumptions. Impulse- response functions are provided to illustrate and discuss this bidirectional relationship. The results are in line with the...

Cette thèse propose une analyse contrastive de la causalité en arabe et en français. L’intérêt d’une telle étude est double. Nous exposons un cadre linguistique concernant l'analyse des différentes manifestations linguistiques causales. Ensuite, nous établissons de ressources linguistiques relatives à la causalité selon la méthode d’exploration contextuelle (Desclés 1997) destinées à un traitement automatique pour une recherche d’information. Nous passons à l'étude du lexique verbal afin d’organiser une grande diversité des verbes indicateursde causalitéen arabe ainsi que de dresser une liste assez complète des significations des verbes indicateurs répertoriés et de les classer dans des catégories sémantiques. Dans le but d’élaborer une carte sémantique causale, nous avons été obligées de préciser un réseau de concepts théoriques relatifs à la causalité. Le modèle de Talmy a constitué notre point de départ, il nous a permis une première décomposition de la signification des verbes indicateurs causaux. Le modèle de la Grammaire applicative et cognitive (Desclés 1990) nous a fourni un cadre pertinent pour représenter cette décomposition et l’affiner également. Pour finir, nous avons élaboré les schèmes sémantico-cognitifs des verbes indicateurs causals ainsi que des schémas aspecto-temporels en tenant compte des arguments impliqués par la causalité. / This thesis proposes a contrastive analysis of causality in Arabic and French. The interest of such study is twofold. We present a linguistic framework for the analysis of different linguistic causal manifestations. Then, we establish linguistic resources of causality following the contextual exploration method (Desclés 1997) used in automatic processingfor information retrieval. We turn to the study of the verbal lexicon to organize a wide variety of existing indicators verbsof causality in Arabic, and to compile a fairly complete list of the meanings of verbs indicators listed and classify them into semantic categories. In order to develop a causal semantic map, we have been obliged to specify a network of theoretical concepts related to causality. Talmy model was our starting point; it allowed us to undertake a certain decomposition of the meaning of causal indicators verbs. The model of Applicative and Cognitive Grammar (Desclés 1990) provided us with a relevant theoretical framework to analyze this decomposition. Finally, we have developed semantic-cognitive patterns for the causal indicators verbs as well as aspectual-temporal patterns taking into account the arguments involved by in the causality.

This master thesis deals with infertility and its treatment. Both in the theoretical and empirical part, it focuses on the female aspects of the issue. The theoretical part summarizes the knowledge which is important to understand the presented problems. We define the terms; we describe the psychological and physiological causes of infertility, the process of treatment of infertility and aspects thereof. We focus on the role of stress and the strategies of coping with stress related to infertility and its treatment; furthermore, we deal with personal causality orientation related to the experienced level of stress as one of the determinants of coping with stress. Our aim in the empirical part is to describe the use of strategies of coping with stress within the sample of women acquired by us, the distribution of personal causality orientation of these women and to capture the possible connections. The sample is made of 57 women who are currently undergoing a treatment for infertility. To collect the data, we used the SVF 78 Inventory, the DOPO Questionnaire of the Personal Causality Orientation and a self-developed anamnestic questionnaire. Based on acquired data, we established some specificity in the use of strategies of coping with stress and the distribution of personal causality orientation...