Gender differences in infertility-related stress and the relationship between stress and social support in Thai infertile couples.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To study infertility-related stress among men and women and to examine its relationship with the level of perceived social support. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The Fertility Problem Inventory (FPI) and the Personal Resource Questionnaire (PRQ) were translated into Thai and used to assess the level of infertility-related stress and perceived social support, respectively, in 238 infertile subjects. RESULTS: The global FPI scores for men and women were 154.2 +/- 18.3 and 154.7 +/- 22.6, respectively (p > 0.05). There was no significant difference in their perceived social support (PRQ scores = 137.8 + 14.0 and 134.0 +/- 16. 7 respectively). A significant negative correlation (r = -0.1894; p < 0.001) existed between global stress and social support in women, but not in men. CONCLUSION: Thai infertile couples experienced a high level of stress. Unlike previous studies from Western countries, there was no gender diference in infertility-related stress.