Dyadic and emotional adjustment in infertile couples

Abstract

Objective: This research evaluated dyadic adjustment and analyzed its contribution to emotional health and interpersonal resources in Spanish couples with reproductive problems undergoing assisted reproduction treatment. Background: Many studies described the psychological challenges of infertile couples experiencing infertility. Social support, particularly in their relationship, protected each couple member's health and quality of life. Method: Overall, 174 infertile heterosexual couples, selected from several Spanish reference hospitals, completed questionnaires regarding personal and clinical data, emotional health, adaptive resources, and dyadic adjustment. Results: Both partners in couples presenting with infertility showed less emotional maladjustment and more dyadic adjustment than the normative values. Women in couples presenting with infertility reported greater emotional maladjustment and interpersonal resources and fewer personal resources than men. For women, educational level, age, affective expression, and dyadic consensus seem to act as protective factors, predicting less emotional maladjustment and more adaptive resources. For men, the couple's relationship duration, affective expression, dyadic cohesion, and dyadic satisfaction contributed to reduced emotional maladjustment and accounted for greater adaptive resources. Conclusion: Greater dyadic adjustment appears to protect the emotional health of women and men seeking infertility treatment. Implications: Support programs targeting dyadic adjustment may be helpful to couples undergoing fertility treatment.