Historically, infertility has been a taboo topic of discussion and is often avoided in conversation because of the stigmatization of the diagnosis. According to the World Health Organization (2022), infertility affects 186 million individuals globally. However, there seems to be a gap in the research as it pertains to the psychological well-being and treatment of men and women diagnosed with this condition. While it has become less of a feared topic, it still is not discussed or researched enough, thus further exacerbating the gap in research on mental health and treatment options. The following dissertation completed a critical review of the existing literature exploring how infertility impacts a couple’s relationship functioning, particularly reviewing the impact it has on their marital and sexual satisfaction, communication, and psychological challenges. Clinical approaches that display effectiveness in working with infertile couples were also explored. Findings are presented in terms of theoretical and practical implications and directions for future investigations. Recommendations for clinicians are also included based on the literature review. Based on this review, a group therapy proposal is provided for providing treatment to couples facing infertility.
","abstract_html":"<p>Historically, infertility has been a taboo topic of discussion and is often avoided in conversation because of the stigmatization of the diagnosis. According to the World Health Organization (2022), infertility affects 186 million individuals globally. However, there seems to be a gap in the research as it pertains to the psychological well-being and treatment of men and women diagnosed with this condition. While it has become less of a feared topic, it still is not discussed or researched enough, thus further exacerbating the gap in research on mental health and treatment options. The following dissertation completed a critical review of the existing literature exploring how infertility impacts a couple’s relationship functioning, particularly reviewing the impact it has on their marital and sexual satisfaction, communication, and psychological challenges. Clinical approaches that display effectiveness in working with infertile couples were also explored. Findings are presented in terms of theoretical and practical implications and directions for future investigations. Recommendations for clinicians are also included based on the literature review. Based on this review, a group therapy proposal is provided for providing treatment to couples facing infertility.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Sanders, Elizabeth"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Psy.D. Doctor of Clinical Psychology","degree_level":"Dissertation - Public Access","degree_discipline":"Clinical Psychology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Lisa Costas","Crystal Collier"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2024,"date_issued":"2024-09-01T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2024-09-01T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:21:38Z","subjects":["infertility","fertility","marital satisfaction","sexual satisfaction","infertility treatments","Clinical Psychology","Family, Life Course, and Society","Health Psychology","Obstetrics and Gynecology","Psychiatric and Mental Health","Women's Health"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://digitalcommons.nl.edu/diss/858","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Lisa Costas","Crystal Collier"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Sanders, Elizabeth"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2025-08-01T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Clinical Psychology"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Dissertation - Public Access"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Psy.D. Doctor of Clinical Psychology"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["infertility","fertility","marital satisfaction","sexual satisfaction","infertility treatments","Clinical Psychology","Family, Life Course, and Society","Health Psychology","Obstetrics and Gynecology","Psychiatric and Mental Health","Women's Health"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://digitalcommons.nl.edu/diss/858"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Historically, infertility has been a taboo topic of discussion and is often avoided in conversation because of the stigmatization of the diagnosis. According to the World Health Organization (2022), infertility affects 186 million individuals globally. However, there seems to be a gap in the research as it pertains to the psychological well-being and treatment of men and women diagnosed with this condition. While it has become less of a feared topic, it still is not discussed or researched enough, thus further exacerbating the gap in research on mental health and treatment options. The following dissertation completed a critical review of the existing literature exploring how infertility impacts a couple’s relationship functioning, particularly reviewing the impact it has on their marital and sexual satisfaction, communication, and psychological challenges. Clinical approaches that display effectiveness in working with infertile couples were also explored. Findings are presented in terms of theoretical and practical implications and directions for future investigations. Recommendations for clinicians are also included based on the literature review. Based on this review, a group therapy proposal is provided for providing treatment to couples facing infertility.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Infertility’s Impact on Couples’ Functioning"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Lisa Costas","Crystal Collier"],"dc:creator":["Sanders, Elizabeth"],"dc:date.available":["2025-08-01T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Historically, infertility has been a taboo topic of discussion and is often avoided in conversation because of the stigmatization of the diagnosis. According to the World Health Organization (2022), infertility affects 186 million individuals globally. However, there seems to be a gap in the research as it pertains to the psychological well-being and treatment of men and women diagnosed with this condition. While it has become less of a feared topic, it still is not discussed or researched enough, thus further exacerbating the gap in research on mental health and treatment options. The following dissertation completed a critical review of the existing literature exploring how infertility impacts a couple’s relationship functioning, particularly reviewing the impact it has on their marital and sexual satisfaction, communication, and psychological challenges. Clinical approaches that display effectiveness in working with infertile couples were also explored. Findings are presented in terms of theoretical and practical implications and directions for future investigations. Recommendations for clinicians are also included based on the literature review. Based on this review, a group therapy proposal is provided for providing treatment to couples facing infertility.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://digitalcommons.nl.edu/diss/858"],"dc:subject":["infertility","fertility","marital satisfaction","sexual satisfaction","infertility treatments","Clinical Psychology","Family, Life Course, and Society","Health Psychology","Obstetrics and Gynecology","Psychiatric and Mental Health","Women's Health"],"dc:title":["Infertility’s Impact on Couples’ Functioning"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Clinical Psychology"],"thesis:degree_level":["Dissertation - Public Access"],"thesis:degree_name":["Psy.D. Doctor of Clinical Psychology"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:21:38Z"}