Types and Characteristics of Stress Coping in Women Undergoing Infertility Treatment in Korea

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Feb 1;20(3):2648. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20032648.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify the characteristics and predictors of types of stress coping in women undergoing infertility treatment. The cross-sectional study included 120 women who were receiving infertility treatment at infertility hospitals. Self-report questionnaires were used to measure. K-means cluster analysis and multinomial logistic regression were used to examine the characteristics and predictors of stress-coping types. Out of all the women undergoing infertility treatment who completed a self-report survey, 30.8% had a weak mixed coping type, 35.9% had a strong mixed coping type, and 33.3% had a passive coping type. The strong mixed treatment type was compared to weak mixed treatment type, with the following results: infertility adaptation (OR = 17.71, p < 0.000), spousal support (OR = 4.50, p = 0.021), infertility counseling experience (OR = 7.14, p = 0.010). Comparing the strong mixed coping type with the passive coping type, resilience (OR = 9.11, p < 0.000) was shown. It is necessary to strengthen resilience and provide a receptive attitude and spousal support to women undergoing infertility adaptation to help them relieve stress and develop functional coping.

Keywords: cluster analysis; female; infertility; psychological; stress.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infertility* / psychology
  • Infertility* / therapy
  • Republic of Korea / epidemiology
  • Stress, Psychological* / epidemiology
  • Stress, Psychological* / psychology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Grants and funding

No funding was provided for this study.