A preliminary study of the psychological differences in infertile couples and their relation to the coping styles

Musa, Ramli and Ramli, Roszaman and Abdul Wahab, Azantee Yazmie and Mohd Bustaman, Siti Khadijah and Mohd Yatim, Hayati and Midin, Marhani and Nik Jaafar, Nik Ruzyanei and Das, Srijit and Sidi, Hatta and Ravindran, Arun (2014) A preliminary study of the psychological differences in infertile couples and their relation to the coping styles. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 55 (supp.1). S65-S69. ISSN 0010-440X

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Abstract

Background: Studies from Western countries have observed that couples undergoing infertility treatment suffer various physical and psychological difficulties at a higher frequency than the comparable general population. These relate to treatment challenges and other psychosocial stressors, often influenced by coping style, personality factors and available support systems. There is paucity of studies in non-Western populations. Objective: The aim of this pilot investigation was to evaluate characteristics and gender differences in perceived psychological difficulties reported by infertile Malaysian couples. In particular, depression, anxiety and stress, along with correlated coping styles, were examined between spouses. Methods: Demographic information, including age, ethnicity and duration and causes of infertility, were collected from participants treated within a fertility clinic. The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS) and Coping Inventory for Stressful Situation (CISS) were completed to measure psychological distress and coping styles. Results: Depression, anxiety and stress-related difficulties were reported at significantly higher frequency by wives than husbands (pb0.05). There were no significant differences in coping styles between wives and husbands. However, emotional-oriented coping style was associated with significantly higher levels of depression, anxiety and stress (pb0.05) within the overall sample with odds ratios of 2.5, 3.0 and 1.5, respectively. Conclusion: The study confirms that, as with Western subjects, Malaysian infertile couples demonstrate the vulnerability to psychological distress that occurs more frequently among wives than husbands. As anticipated, emotional coping style was associated with greater distress in both genders.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Additional Information:	5818/34207
Uncontrolled Keywords:	infertile couples
Subjects:	R Medicine > RZ Other systems of medicine > RZ400 Mental healing
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Medicine > Department of Obstetric & Gynecology Kulliyyah of Medicine > Department of Psychiatry
Depositing User:	Professor Ramli Musa
Date Deposited:	11 Feb 2014 18:03
Last Modified:	20 Jun 2018 16:42
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/34207

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