Abstract
Infertility may be associated with severe psychological burden and many couples need mental support. We used dyadic approach to identify couples with disturbed psychological condition and we tested the WHO-5 Well-Being Index (WHO-5-WBI) questionnaire as a possible, rapid screening method. Extensive psychological assessment of infertile couples was carried out with Beck’s Depression Inventory, Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, WHO-5-WBI, Symptom Check List-90 Revised Test, Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. Data of 128 patients (64 couples) were used in the statistical calculations. The Two-Step cluster analysis has revealed 2 groups, which could be separated supremely based on the level of experienced depression, anxiety and according to the general mental health. The WHO-5-WBI questionnaire showed consistent results while classifying couples into groups, which were formed. Our results indicate that infertility affects both spouses almost in the same extent in several psychological aspects. A cluster of couples with increased psychological burden could be clearly separated. The WHO-5-WBI questionnaire was a promising tool to screen reliably spouses based on their psychological state and identify couples that need psychological support during their fertility work-up and treatment.
Highlights
Infertility can be described as an inability to become conceived within one year despite regular sexual intercourse without contraceptive usage (Jayashankar, 2017)
Infertility causes a ponderous psychological burden both for women and men, including depression, anxiety, feeling shame and low self-esteem, which negatively influence the coping mechanism of individuals and are likely to reduce the success of the future fertility treatment (Baqutayan, 2015; Malina, Blaszkiewicz, & Owczarz, 2016; McQueeney, Stanton, & Sigmon, 1997; Taebi, Simbar, & Abdolahian, 2018)
We used the Hungarian version of psychometrical instruments to measure depression (Beck’s Depression Inventory – BDI), anxiety (Spielberger StateTrait Anxiety Inventory – STAI), well-being (WHO-5 Well-Being Index – WHO-5 WBI), general mental state (Symptom Check List – 90 Revised Test – Symptom Checklist-90 Revised test (SCL-90R)), nicotine dependence (Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence – FTND), alcohol dependence (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test – AUDIT)
Summary
Infertility can be described as an inability to become conceived within one year despite regular sexual intercourse without contraceptive usage (Jayashankar, 2017). Hegyi et al: Clustering Infertile Couples With Dyadic Approach are affected (Vander Borght & Wyns, 2018). Even though this phenomenon has been remedied for decades with advanced assisted reproduction techniques, involuntary childlessness and its psychological consequences are mostly neglected and barely emphasized reproductive healthcare problems (Whittaker, Inhorn, & Shenfield, 2019). Younglai and colleagues highlight the observation that depression and anxiety in women and stress in men might be amongst the main causes of fertility problems and can negatively affect the process of in vitro fertilization (IVF) programs. It would be worthwhile to pay particular attention to the assessment of the psychological state of those who are involved in the fertility programs (Younglai, Holloway, & Foster, 2005)
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