Relationship between marital satisfaction and defeat in IVF-ET: based on actor-partner interdependence model approach

Abstract

Objective A person’s marital satisfaction is a strong predictor of their own mental health outcomes. However, marital satisfaction results from both spouses’ experiences, so a partner’s marital satisfaction also affects his or her mental health outcomes. This study adopted the actor-partner interdependence model approach (APIM) to evaluate the relationship between marital satisfaction and sense of defeat in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) couples. Methods and measures In this cross-sectional study, 181 infertile couples undergoing IVF-ET treatment were recruited using the Marital Satisfaction Scale of the ENRICH Marital Quality Questionnaire and Defeat Scale. Through APIM and Pearson analysis, the path relationship between marital satisfaction and defeat was analyzed. Results The varying degrees of defeat in IVF-ET couples, are closely related to actors’ and partners’ marital satisfaction. In terms of actor effects, the Marital Satisfaction of both husbands (β = −0.71, p < 0.001) and wives (β = −0.46, p = 0.001) have a significant effect on individual Defeat. With regard to partner effects, husbands’ Marital Satisfaction (β = −0.23, p = 0.038) has a significant impact on wives’ Defeat and the wives’ Marital Satisfaction (β = −0.45, p = −0.005) has a significant impact on husbands’ Defeat. Conclusion IVF-ET couples must be looked at as a whole, and it is critical to include couples and not just men or women when studying infertility. The importance of their interaction is essential to improve the psychosocial adaptation of infertile couples in IVF-ET treatment.