Role of Marital Relationship Quality in Emotional Disturbance and Personal Growth of Women with Infertility: A Cross-Sectional Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Counselling in Midwifery, Student Research Committee, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran

2 Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran

3 Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran

Abstract

Background: Infertility is a stressful condition that can lead to either emotional disturbance or personal growth. Marital
relationship is one of the factors affecting the consequences of infertility. This study aimed to explore the role of
marital relationship quality in development of women's personal growth after experiencing infertility.
Materials and Methods: In the cross-sectional study, 122 infertile women (mean age 28.79 ± 6.3) were invited to
complete the survey, including ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Scale, Posttraumatic Growth, Fertility problem inventory,
State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Beck Inventory Depression.
Results: Higher scores of quality of marital relationships were a protective factor against infertility stress and state/
trait anxiety. Additionally, infertility stress was a strong negative predictor of personal growth. Furthermore, infertile
women with a high level of marital relationships may have more chances to experience personal growth rather than
stress in infertility treatments.
Conclusion: The study suggests that high quality of marital relationships may provide positive opportunities for women’s
personal growth after experiencing infertility.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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International Journal of Fertility and Sterility
Volume 17, Issue 3
July 2023
Pages 174-180

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