The relationship between clinical-demographic factors with adjustment to infertility in women in Iran

Infertility is an intense and prolonged stressful experience. Despite the high prevalence of infertility and its emotional burden for couples and especially for women, our knowledge regarding factors influencing adjustment to it is limited. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between demographic and clinical factors and adjustment to infertility in women in Iran. A total number of 275 women referring to infertility clinic of Valie-Asr Reproductive Health Research Center (Tehran Imam Khomeini hospital) participated in the study. Data was collected via demographic information questionnaire, Adjustment to Illness Scale (AIS), and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS). Results showed there were significant relationships between infertility duration and depressionn (p<0/05) and number of treatments had significant relationship with depression (p<0/05) and adjustment (p<0/01). There were also significant differences in scores of depression, anxiety, stress and adjustment in women with different educational levels, women living in Tehran and other cities and women who were employed or housewives. These results can be helpful in identifying high risk patients and planning psychological interventions

The Mediational Role of Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies in the Relationship of Ego-strength and Adjustment to Infertility in Women.

Objective:Infertility is considered as an intense and prolonged stressful experience. Despite of high prevalence of infertility and its emotional burden for couples and especially for women, Materials and methods:the knowledge regarding psychological factors influencing adjustment to it is limited. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mediational role of cognitive emotion regulation strategies in the relationship of ego-strength and adjustment to infertility in women.A total number of 275 women with primary infertility referring to Valie-asr Reproductive Health Research Center (Tehran Imam Khomeini Hospital) participated in the present study. Data was collected via demographic information questionnaire, Ego-Strength Scale (ESS), Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ) and Adjustment to Illness Scale (AIS). Data were analysed using Pearson correlation and path analysis methods Using SPSS (18) and LISREL (8.5) software. Results: Results indicated there are significant positive correlation between ego-strength and adjustment to infertility (r = 0.44, p < 0.01). Also Adjustment has significant positive correlation withadaptive emotion regulation strategies (r = 0.38, p < 0.01) and significant negative correlation with non-adaptive emotion regulation strategies (r = -0.43, p < 0.01). RESULTS of path analysis indicated emotion regulation strategies mediate the relationship of ego-strength and adjustment. Conclusion: These results can be helpful in making preventive policies, identifying high risk patients and planning psychological interventions