Comparison of multiple psychological distress measures between men and women preparing for in vitro fertilization.
OBJECTIVE
To compare multiple measures of psychological distress between men and women preparing for IVF.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort study.


METHODS
Outpatient, academic infertility clinic.


METHODS
One hundred sixty-two consecutive couples presenting for infertility treatment with IVF.


METHODS
Measures were completed as part of a routine, infertility-focused psychological evaluation, including the Beck Depression Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, State-Trait Anger Inventory, and Impact of Events Scale.


METHODS
Scores of above psychological questionnaires.


RESULTS
Psychological distress scores were statistically significantly higher among women than men for symptoms of depression, state anxiety, infertility specific distress, and general perceived stress. However, aside from infertility-specific distress (d = .43), effect sizes for the paired differences between females and males ranged from d = .18 to .23.


CONCLUSIONS
Women consistently scored higher on multiple measures of psychological distress than their male partners in the context of preparing for IVF. Comparison of infertility-specific distress scores yielded the largest statistically and clinically significant difference compared with traditional measures of general depression and anxiety symptoms.
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226, USA. cwichman@mcw.edu
Christina L
CL
Wichman
Shawna L
SL
Ehlers
Scott E
SE
Wichman
Amy L
AL
Weaver
Charles
C
Coddington
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012107:Research Design; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult