باروری و ناباروری ایران

Hashemieh Chehreh1, Gity Ozgoli2*, Khadijeh Abolmaali3, Malihe Nasiri4

1. PhD Candidate of Reproductive Health, Student Research Committee, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Hashemieh_chehreh@yahoo.com

2. Assistant Professor, PhD of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. gozgoli@gmail.com

3. Associate Professor, PhD of Psychology, Department of Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Roodehen Branch, Tehran, Iran. Sama.abolmaali@gmail.com

4. Assistant Professor, PhD of Biostatistics, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. malihenasiri@gmail.com

Background: Infertility is a personal and social issue that affects couples with multiple psychiatric disorders and impact on marital life and family functioning. Marital satisfaction is a true sense of satisfaction with marital relationship that can affect the physical and psychological aspects of couple life. This study aimed to investigate marital satisfaction in infertile couples and its relationship with infertility related stress.

Material & methods: In this cross-sectional study, 150 infertile couples visiting infertility centers in Tehran, Iran, were selected using the convenience sampling method. To collect data, a demographic form, ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Scale, and Fertility Problem Inventory were employed. To analyze the data, we used Paired T test, Pearson correlation coefficient, and stepwise regression in SPSS, version 18.

Results: Paired t-test showed a significant difference between the mean marital satisfaction scores in couples. The average marital satisfaction score was higher in men (P=0.003). The mean scores of couples in the sub-scales of "marital satisfaction" and "idealized distortion" had a significant difference (P=0.003) (P=0.006). The result of linear regression test showed a significant relationship between marital satisfaction and infertility related stress (P<0.001).

Conclusion: Infertility stress in both men and women can affect the satisfaction of their marital relationship. Therefore, special attention to stress management counseling and control in this group of couples can be very effective.