MEASURING THE LEVEL OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AND ITS IMPACT ON QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG INFERTILE WOMEN IN SOUTH PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Abstract

This research study was planned to check the level of psychological distress in relation with the infertility among women. This study also explored the impact of this psychological distress with the level of quality of life among women. In this connection, a sample of (N=284) was approached by using purposive sampling technique. To measure the variables two valid and reliable scales were administered and the collected responses were further analyzed by using SPSS. The results revealed that the infertile women were facing moderate level of psychological distress. Both the level of depression and anxiety were at moderate level among the infertile women. Similarly, the quality of life was lower among infertile women. The analysis also showed that the women with anxiety and depression scored lower quality of life scale. Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between psychological distress i.e. depression and anxiety with the level of quality of life among infertile women. On the basis of results, the study concluded that infertile women are suffering from anxiety and depression with lower level of quality of life. Hence, there is a dire need to address this issue and implement some interventions to reduce the level of psychological distress and uplift the quality of life of infertile women in south Punjab, Pakistan. Keywords: Anxiety, Depression, Infertility, Quality of life, Psychological distress.