Infertility distress is a major concern for couples. The primary aim of this study was to predict ability to share feelings about infertility using the Fertility Problems Inventory (FPI) depression, anxiety and additional variables. Randomly selected couples responded to paper-pencil instruments that measured ability to share feelings about infertility, fertility stress, coping, stress, anxiety and depression as key variables. Selected participants were adults diagnosed with infertility undergoing assisted reproductive treatment for at least 6 months in Hungary. Multiple linear regression analysis was applied to predict fertility related stress scores separately for female and male participants. A total of 94 couples participated. Employing Wilcoxon tests, a significant difference was identified in the use of emotional coping (females using more emotional coping compared to males) (z = -4.18, p < 0.001). No significant difference was found in the utilization of problem-solving coping. With regard to the ability to share feelings about infertility, no significant difference was identified in favor of either gender. With regard to the impact of treatment on everyday life, female respondents indicated a significantly greater effect (z = -2.67, p = 0.008). One-point increase in anxiety scores increased fertility distress by 0.83 and 1.25 points for women and men, respectively. One-year increase since infertility diagnosis was linked to a 1.61-point increase in fertility distress for males. For women, for every one-point increase in the perception of their inability to discuss personal issues with someone else, there was a five-fold increase in infertility-related distress. Stress, anxiety, and depression were linked to problem-solving in women, but were associated with emotional coping in men. Regression analysis showed a difference between women and men in predicting stress related to infertility. In women, the inability to talk about their feelings related to infertility was significantly negatively associated with fertility stress. However, in men, feelings related to infertility were not predictors of infertility stress. This result requires further research to clarify the reason for the difference. Infertility distress is a significant issue for couples. The main goal of this study was to predict fertility distress using the Fertility Problems Inventory (FPI). Here’s how we did it: We asked 94 couples to answer questions on a questionnaire about their coping strategies, stress levels, anxiety levels, and depression levels. Here are the results: It turned out that women used more emotional coping strategies than men. Female respondents said that the treatment had a much bigger impact on their everyday life. For both women and men, higher anxiety was linked to more distress related to fertility. Each one-point increase in anxiety scores led to an 0.83-point increase in distress for women and a 1.25-point increase for men. Additionally, each year since being diagnosed with infertility was associated with a 1.61-point increase in distress for men. For women, every one-point increase in the feeling that they could not talk about personal issues with someone else was linked to a fivefold increase in infertility-related distress. In light of these findings, we can draw the following conclusions: Women who were stressed, anxious, or depressed tended to use problem-solving strategies, while men were more likely to rely on emotional coping. However, the study did not find a significant link between coping strategies, depression, stress, and infertility distress. Finally, among women, an inability to discuss feelings related to infertility was associated with higher levels of fertility stress. However, in men, feelings related to infertility did not predict infertility distress.
Szatmári et al. (Thu,) studied this question.