Relationship between stigma and social support in female infertility patients

Abstract

Objective To investigate the status of stigma in female infertility patients and to explore its relationship with social support, in order to provide some references for clinical targeted psychological intervention. Methods 161 cases of female infertility treated at the reproductive center of some three grade hospital in Xiamen were investigated using general information questionnaire, social impact scale, and social support rating scale. Results The stigma score was (70.01±11.67). The average score of the total items was (2.92±0.49). The scores of internal shame, social isolation, social exclusion, and economic discrimination were (2.89±0.50), (2.88±0.43), (2.82±0.54), and (2.47±0.49). There was a negative relationship between the factors of stigma and social support. Multiple regression analysis showed that social support, subjective support, and social support utilization had a negative predictive effect on the diseased sense of stigma, and a total of 25.8% variations were explained. Conclusion There is a moderate level of stigma in female infertility, which is negatively related to social support. We can reduce the stigma of infertile women by improving social support. Key words: Female; Infertility; Stigma; Social support