Two Main Independent Predictors of Depression Among Infertile Women: An Asian Experience

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify personal, familial or social predictors of depression in infertile women seeking treatment. This cross-sectional study included 193 infertile women who had been referred to an infertility center, where they were either undergoing treatment or investigative procedures. During separate interviews, questionnaires were filled out for each of the participants. The Beck Depression Inventory was used to assess the severity of depression. The mean age of the participants was 27.3 +/- 5.6 years and the mean length of married life was 5.6 +/- 5.3 years. The mean length of time for which they had been seeking infertility treatment was 4.1 +/- 3.01 years. Women with Beck scores indicating that they were not depressed constituted 27.46% of the participants, while 72.54% seemed to be suffering from some degree of depression. Linear regression analysis showed that the only independent predictors of depression were the irrational parenthood cognition score and psychologic pressure exerted by relatives on the infertile couple. Irrational parenthood cognitions and pressure by relatives were the two main independent predictors of depression among infertile women.