title: Male factor infertility and lack of openness about infertility as risk factors for depressive symptoms in males undergoing assisted reproductive technology treatment in Italy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the association between male factor infertility and openness to discussing assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment with levels of depression among men undergoing infertility treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred forty participants (170 men and their partners) undergoing ART treatments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Administration of a set of questionnaires.
  
  
  METHODS
  Depressive symptoms were detected by means of the Zung Depression Self-Rating Scale. Participants' willingness to share their infertility treatment experience with other people was assessed by means of self-report questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this study, 51.8% of males chose not to discuss their ART treatments with people other than their partner. In addition, the decision to discuss or not discuss the ART treatments with others was significantly associated with men's depressive symptoms. Male factor infertility was significantly associated with depression when considered together with the decision not to discuss ART treatments with others. A general disposition characterized by a lack of openness with others seemed to be a significant predictor of depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a need for routine fertility care to pay greater attention to men's emotional needs. Before commencing reproductive treatment, male patients may benefit from undergoing routine screening for variables (i.e., male factor infertility and openness to others about ART) that may affect their risk of depression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Sciences, Health and Territory, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy. Electronic address: a.babore@unich.it.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Babore
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Sciences, Health and Territory, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Liborio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stuppia
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Sciences, Health and Territory, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trumello
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Sciences, Health and Territory, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Candelori
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Sciences, Health and Territory, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Antonucci
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D004644:Emotions; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Male infertility; assisted reproduction; depression; psychology