Comparison between stressors and coping behaviors among wives and husbands undergoing assisted reproductive technologies [ART]

ABSTRACT

Infertility is one of the most stressful conditions for anyone to deal with in life. The present study was aiming to Compare Between Stressors and Coping Behaviors among Wives and Husbands Undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technologies [ART]. This aim was achieved through identifying physiological, psychological and socio-economical Stressors and assessing coping behaviors used by infertile couples to relieve these Stressors. The study was conducted at the Assisting Reproductive Technology Unit of Ain-Shams University Maternity Hospital. It started in May, 2004 and completed by June 2005 using descriptive design. A convenient technique of sampling was used to include 100 infertile couples undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technologies based on primary infertility criterion. Three tool were used for Data collection. A structured interviewing questionnaire sheet, Stressors sheet and coping behaviors sheet. The study revealed that wives perceived Stressors more than the husbands among different types of Stressors [physiological, psychological, and socioeconomic]. The couples are similar in using the positive coping behaviors, while concerning negative manners, they are used more by wives than husbands, however comparing the use of positive behaviors which include pray, and surrender to fate and negative behaviors by the couples, results revealed that positive manners are more used than negative once. The study recommended an educational program for infertile couple about ART and its steps before starting treatment