TY - JOUR
T1 - A preliminary study of the psychological differences in infertile couples and their relation to the coping styles
AU - Musa, Ramli
AU - Ramli, Roszaman
AU - Yazmie, Abdul Wahab Azantee
AU - Khadijah, Mohd Bustaman Siti
AU - Hayati, Mohd Yatim
AU - Midin, Marhani
AU - Jaafar, Nik Ruzyanei Nik
AU - Das, Srijit
AU - Sidi, Hatta
AU - Ravindran, Arun
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors wish to thank the Research Management Centre of International Islamic University Malaysia , for endowing us with the grant for conducting this research.
PY - 2014/1
Y1 - 2014/1
N2 - 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 (p < 0.05). 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 (p < 0.05) 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.
AB - 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 (p < 0.05). 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 (p < 0.05) 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.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.comppsych.2013.01.001
DO - 10.1016/j.comppsych.2013.01.001
M3 - Article
C2 - 23433218
AN - SCOPUS:84889882700
SN - 0010-440X
VL - 55
SP - S65-S69
JO - Comprehensive Psychiatry
JF - Comprehensive Psychiatry
IS - SUPPL. 1
ER -