1- Department of Reproductive Health and Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
2- Department of Reproductive Health and Midwifery, Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. , amini.l@iums.ac.ir
3- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Shahid Akbar-Abadi Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
4- Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract: (1396 Views)
Background: Infertility and its treatment, as one of the most difficult experiences in life, affects the mental health and happiness of couples, especially women. This study compared the happiness of infertile women and the wives of infertile men.
Methods: This research was a comparative cross-sectional study. The study sample included 142 women (71 infertile women and 71 wives of infertile men) referring to the infertility clinic of Akbarabadi Hospital in Tehran, Iran, selected by consecutive sampling from February to August 2020. Demographic information and the Oxford happiness inventory (OHI) were used to collect the data. The data analysis was performed in SPSS software, version 16 using the Fisher exact-test, Chi-square, Kruskal-Wallis, and independent t-test. A P<0.05 was considered significant.
Results: The study showed that infertile women are happier than the wives of infertile men (P=0.006). Also, the subscales of life satisfaction (P=0.016), efficacy (P=0.025), cheerfulness (P=0.001), and self-esteem (P=0.017) were higher in infertile women than in the other group. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups in the subscales of sociability and wellbeing.
Conclusion: According to the findings, spouses of infertile men may experience lower happiness levels than infertile women. In addition to paying more attention to the psychological condition of infertile men’s wives, more detailed studies with a larger sample size are needed to confirm the results. Also, qualitative studies are recommended to clarify all dimensions of happiness of infertile couples.
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• Infertility may cause depression and anxiety by affecting women’s social, psychological, and physical aspects.
• The happiness of infertile women was significantly higher than that of infertile men’s wives.
• Life satisfaction, efficacy, cheerfulness, and self-esteem dimensions of happiness were higher in infertile women than in infertile men’s wives.
• There was no significant difference between the groups’ sociability and wellbeing dimensions of happiness.
Plain Language Summary
Infertility is a psychological distress for most couples. Regardless of the cause of infertility, happiness can be negatively affected. This study compared the level of happiness of infertile women and the wives of infertile men. The study results showed that infertile women are happier than the wives of infertile men. In addition, most dimensions of happiness, including life satisfaction, efficiency, cheerfulness, and self-esteem, were higher in infertile women than infertile men’s wives.
Type of Study:
Research |
Subject:
Special Received: 2022/11/1 | Accepted: 2022/12/18 | Published: 2023/05/1