The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology (대한한방부인과학회지)

The Society of Korean Medicine Obstetrics and Gynecology (대한한방부인과학회)
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Stress Patterns in Women with Infertility: an In-depth Interview Study

심층면담을 통한 난임 여성의 스트레스 양상에 관한 연구

  • Se-In Cho (Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynecology, College of Korean Medicine, Dongguk University) ;
  • Dong-Il Kim (Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynecology, College of Korean Medicine, Dongguk University) ;
  • Su-Ji Choi (Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynecology, College of Korean Medicine, Dong-eui University)
  • 조세인 (동국대학교 한의과대학 산부인과학교실) ;
  • 김동일 (동국대학교 한의과대학 산부인과학교실) ;
  • 최수지 (동의대학교 한의과대학 부인과학교실)
  • Received : 2023.04.14
  • Accepted : 2023.05.26
  • Published : 2023.05.26
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Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate stress patterns and coping abilities in women with infertility by conducting in-depth interviews. Methods: Ten women with infertility who visited the Korean Medicine Hospital and provided consent after being informed of the purpose and method of the study were selected after meeting the inclusion/exclusion criteria. They were requested to complete a preliminary questionnaire developed by the researchers, the Infertility Stress Scale, and the Korean version of the Fertility Problem Inventory (FPI). Subsequently, each participant was interviewed individually. Results: The preliminary questionnaire was used to evaluate sensitivity to each type of infertility-related stress and ability to express and resolve it. Among all infertility stress types, the largest proportion, accounting for an average of 47.5±26.95%, was that felt by the patient herself. Considering stress awareness intensity, the stress felt by the patient was the highest, with an average score of 4.30±0.64. Relative stress sensitivity due to infertility was the highest, with an average score of 3.90±0.94. Compared with general work stress, the average ability to relieve stress related to problems with spouses was the highest, with a score of 2.50±1.20. The average Infertility Stress Scale score was 2.88±1.35 and FPI score was 2.87±2.52. Conclusions: The highest stress scores were observed for the following items: meaning of children, need for parenthood, and stress due to the diagnosis of infertility. The lowest stress scores were allocated to the item concerning relationships with friends and co-workers. Based on the in-depth interviews conducted after the survey, stress in women with infertility may be classified as emotional, physical, and economic. Thus, the requirement for providing appropriate psychological and emotional support depending on the stress type in addition to general medical treatment for infertility treatment was confirmed.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education (grant number 2022R1I1A1A01063398).

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