Predictors of psychological distress among infertility clinic patients.
One in every 6 couples is infertile, and the literature suggests that a number of individuals experience psychological distress associated with infertility. The purpose of this study was to investigate predictors of psychological distress among infertility clinic patients. Analyses indicated that infertile men (n = 86) and women (n = 120) reported greater psychological distress than normative data from the general population. Separate hierarchical multiple regressions revealed that self-blame and avoidance coping was the best predictor of psychological distress among men and women. Increased age and not already having biological children added to the prediction among men but not among women. The limitations and implications of the findings are presented.
Morrow
K A
KA
Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha 68198-5577.
Thoreson
R W
RW
Penney
L L
LL
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000523:psychology*; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires