Individual and Relational Well-Being at the Start of an ART Treatment: A Focus on Partners’ Gender Differences

Abstract

Infertility and ART treatments represent stressful experiences for the couples, impacting on the overall psychological well-being of partners as well as on their couple adjustment. Several variables were analyzed as risk factors for infertility-related distress. The impact of these experiences has been well-documented in both women and men, reporting important gender differences. The aim of this study was to assess gender differences in individual and relational well-being in infertile couples. Gender differences for psychological and medical variables predicting psychological distress were investigated. Two hundred and thirty couples who entered an ART program at a public hospital in Milan were recruited. Each partner completed the following scales: ScreenIVF, Dyadic Adjustment Scale, and Experience in Close Relationship Questionnaire. Findings revealed several gender differences with women reporting higher levels of both anxiety and depressive symptoms, anxiety and avoidance attachment, and helplessness, but lower levels of acceptance than men. Differences emerged also in factors predicting well-being: poor support predicted anxiety in men and depression in women. Furthermore, individual well-being was predicted only for men by attachment anxiety and previous treatment. Finally, in the women subsample, couple's adjustment was predicted by anxiety attachment, while in men predictors were helplessness and type of diagnosis. These results suggest the importance of implementing support interventions for couples which take into consideration the specific needs and fragility of each partner as well as focusing on enhancing a sense of partnership.

Gender differences in attitudes toward assisted reproduction in the Spanish population: The weight of religiosity and conservatism

“…Moreover, men who access ARTs (due to their heterosexual condition and with a partner or through surrogate motherhood in certain countries) present an emotional involvement and affectation before ARTs comparable to that experienced by women. Social support is fundamental for men's and women's mental health in assisted reproduction processes (Molgora et al, 2020). Specifically, in this study, women were more aware of this need for support and social debate about ARTs.…”

“…In situations of low social support, women present more depression and men present more anxiety. In conclusion, gender differences and ARTs can influence both partners and the adjustment of a couple's relationship (Molgora et al, 2020).…”

An Epistemological Perspective of Integrated Multidisciplinary Treatment When Dealing With Infertile Women With a Parenthood Goal: The Importance of Matterpsychic Perspective

“…The psychological and psychosocial interventions, based on the multidisciplinary dialogue with the doctor who performed the diagnosis, in this phase are aimed at preventing the development of psychological distress ( Van den Broeck et al, 2010 ; Frederiksen et al, 2015 ; Molgora et al, 2020 ) and analyzing with the couple the scenario in which the choice to arrive at a center for ART treatments occurs. Inside (or outside) the couple, by whom is the decision made?…”

Health Related Behaviors and Life Satisfaction in Patients Undergoing Infertility Treatment

“…Partners’ health behaviors and overall life satisfaction during the diagnosis and treatment of infertility can be important factors in making it easier for potential parents to undergo medical procedures and rigors. Several studies found that there are gender differences in experiencing infertility [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ].…”