ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate psychological impacts of infertility-related stress in Korean infertile women. METHODS: Both the 34 infertile women group and the control group(34 married women) were evaluated by using Semistructured Questionnaire, Stress Perception Scale, Coping Behavior checklist, Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAS), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression(HRSD), SCL-90-R and State Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI). RESULTS: Perceived financial stress, frequency of negative and neutral life events and frequency of passive coping(especially, emotion-focused coping) were significantly higher in infertile women than control group. In infertile women, totally perceived stress was positively correlated with BDI, SCL-90-R(depression) and STAI. Passive coping behavior was positively correlated with BDI, HAS and STAI. CONCLUSION: Above results suggest that infertile women would have a tendency to passive coping and high level of depression and anxiety, and should be considered for psychiatric intervention.