Examining the Individual and Dyadic Coping Processes of Men and Women in Infertile Couples and Their Relationship to Infertility Stress, Marital Adjustment, and Depression

This study explored the individual and dyadic coping processes of men and women in infertile couples and their relationship to infertility stress, marital adjustment, and depression. Study participants were comprised of 1,026 men and women (420 of which were couples) who were referred to a university-affiliated teaching hospital for advanced reproductive treatments between the years of 1991 and 2001. Three months prior to treatment, participants completed the Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WCQ), the Fertility Problem Inventory (FPI), the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Findings from the study showed that escape avoidance, accepting responsibility, and self controlling were strongly related to increased stress, depression, and decreased marital adjustment for both men and women; while seeking social support was related to increased marital adjustment. Multivariate analyses of variance and covariance consistently showed that participants in four groups of couples who used high and low amounts of coping differed in their reports of infertility stress, marital adjustment, and depression. In addition, gender differences were found, with females consistently reporting greater levels of stress and depression than males. Several significant couple pairings among the four groups were found. Clinical implications linking study findings with marital and family therapies and ideas for future research are discussed.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph. D.

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Human Development

Department dc:contributor.department

Human Development

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2002

Author dc:creator

• Peterson, Brennan Daniel

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Rosen, Karen H.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Johnson, Scott W.
• Protinsky, Howard O. Jr.
• McCollum, Eric E.
• Skaggs, Gary E.

• marital adjustment
• coping
• infertility stress
• depression

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

etd-08272002-151120

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/28809