The Coping Strategies of Women Dealing with Infertility Stress: A Phenomenological Approach

Abstract

Infertility is an unpleasant and unexpected event that can place a lot of stress on the affected person. Regarding the issue of infertility in the country, identifying coping strategies and reducing the stress of infertile women, especially women who have shown a lower level of adjustment, are necessary. The main goal of the present study was to identify the coping strategies of women involved with infertility problems (infertile women and women with infertile spouses) and then to introduce an appropriate infertility counseling model in line with the findings. This study is part of a larger study entitled "The Phenomenological Study of the Challenges of Women Affected by Infertility", which was conducted with a qualitative approach and a phenomenological method. The sample of this study was 33 women who were referred to infertility clinics of Akbar Abadi, Firoozgar and Imam Hossein Hospitals in Tehran in May 2014. They were selected through purposive and accessible sampling and studied using semi-structured interviews. The analysis of data on coping strategies led to the emergence of eight sub-themes: focusing on the positive aspects of marital relationship, focusing on the positive aspects of infertility, reducing the importance of having children, avoiding, spiritual justification (Divine gifting, Divine Test), Secrecy (maintaining a man's position, freeing from pity, illegitimate childhood imagery through methods of fertility), hope and generalization. The results of this research can help counselors in the proper selection of infertility counseling strategies and focus on effective coping strategies in order to empower and improve the quality of life of infertile couples.

Keywords

• infertility
• woman
• coping strategies
• stress
• phenomenology