Factors Affecting the Infertility-Related Quality of Life among the Infertility Women

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to determine the infertility stress, resilience, intimacy and infertility-related quality of life of infertility women in an infertility clinic, and to reveal associated factors of infertility-related quality of life. METHODS: As a descriptive study, data was collected from 92 infertility women in an infertility clinic. Data was analyzed using t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients and stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS: Infertility stress, resilience, intimacy and infertility-related quality of life averaged 3.1±0.5, 3.7±0.3, 3.3±0.3, 3.2±0.5 respectively. The infertility-related quality of life varied with a statistical significance by marital period, the presence of a burdensome person and burdensome person. Infertility-related quality of life had a negative correlation with infertility stress (r=−0.69, p<0.001), and a positive correlation with resilience (r=0.23, p=0.28) and intimacy (r=0.22, p=0.030). Meaningful variables that influenced infertility-related quality of life were ‘need for parenthood,’ ‘social concern in infertility stress’ and ‘positive factor in resilience,’ and infertility-related quality of life was explained 56.6% by the variables. CONCLUSION: It is suggested to highlight the importance of the infertility-related quality of life and to develop and execute the nursing intervention program for enhancing resilience and decreasing infertility stress of infertility women in infertility clinics.