Perceived stress and its social-individual predicors among infertile couples referring to infertility center of Alzahra hospital in Tabriz in 2013

Abstract

Objectives: Infertility is threatening and stressful as a big crisis in life psychologically. Since there still are many ambiguities about the infertility’s being stressful. This study is done for defining the perceived stress among infertile couples and its social-individual predictors. Materials and Methods: This study is a sectional one which was done on 322 infertile couples referring to the infertility center at Alzahra Hospital in Tabriz. Sampling method was available. The gathering data instruments included social-individual particulars questionnaire and perceived stress scale (PSS) questionnaire which was completed as self-completion by the participants. The multivariate linear regression analysis method was used for defining the social-individual predictors of perceived stress. Results: The findings of the research showed that mean (standard deviation) of perceived stress among women was 27.4 (6.0) and 25.9 (5.3) among men out of 0-56 grade range and there was statistically significant difference between men and women due to perceived stress (P<0.001). The variable of monthly income sufficiency for living expenses, occupation, type of current treatment, Method of treatment, Etiology of infertility, methods of contraception were the predictors of perceived stress. Conclusion: The results of this research showed higher perceived stress among women compared to men; therefore it is necessary to provide approaches for reducing the perceived stress focusing on its predictive variables for recovering the couples’ mental status.