Psychological adjustment of infertile women entering IVF treatment: differentiating aspects and influencing factors.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the psychological adjustment of infertile women compared with a control group of mothers and to determine which personal or marital factors influence the amount of emotional disorders in the infertile group.


METHODS
Cross-sectional questionnaire study with a group of infertile women and a group of mothers attending a routine gynecological examination.


METHODS
Infertile women and mothers received the questionnaires after a psychological or medical examination respectively, at a Sterility Center in a Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.


METHODS
One hundred and twenty-two infertile women, entering an IVF program, and 57 mothers attending a routine care visit.


METHODS
Stressful events, self-esteem, job and marital satisfaction, care and control measures of intimate bond, state-trait anxiety, depression, psychophysiological symptoms and global emotional factor scores.


RESULTS
The organic infertile group was higher than mothers on satisfaction with their relationship with their husbands, perception of care and state-anxiety. The emotional factor scores of infertile women, controlled for stressful events, were influenced by a) number of IVF-cycles and availability for adoption, b) job position, job satisfaction and self-esteem, c) personality dimensions. State and trait anxiety scores were influenced by the level of global marital satisfaction.


CONCLUSIONS
Infertile women, entering an IVF treatment program, do not necessarily show signs of psychological maladjustment. Their level of state-anxiety can be considered a situational response to the treatment stress. The infertility condition and its treatment can be effectively dealt with by women having a good personality disposition, a high level of self-esteem, who are satisfied with their job and relationship with their husband, and who are willing to adopt a child as a last solution for their maternal need.
Bringhenti
F
F
Department of Child, Adolescent and Women Mental Health, U.S.L. Bologna City, Italy.
Martinelli
F
F
Ardenti
R
R
La Sala
G B
GB
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000523:psychology*; D008016:Life Change Events; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010551:Personality; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires