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

Abstract

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.

Keywords

• infertility
• adjustment
• demographic factors
• clinical factors