Measuring self-efficacy to deal with infertility: Psychometric properties and confirmatory factor analysis of the portuguese version of the infertility self-efficacy scale

A Chinese version of the infertility self-efficacy scale: Reliability and validity assessment

Objective

To translate, cross-culturally adapt and test the reliability and validity of a Chinese version of the Infertility Self-Efficacy scale.

Methods

The Infertility Self-Efficacy (ISE) scale was translated into Chinese using forward and backward translations, expert consultation, cognitive interviews and a pilot study. To test the scale's reliability and validity, 515 infertile women in two hospitals were recruited to evaluate the Chinese version of the scale. Content validity was assessed by means of expert consultation. Exploratory factor and confirmatory factor analyses were performed using SPSS 26.0 and Amos 24.0. Reliability tests of the scale included Cronbach's alpha coefficient, split-half reliability and test-retest reliability.

Results

The Chinese version of the ISE scale contains 16 items and one dimension. Content validity of the scale was 0.96. Results of exploratory factor analysis suggested that the one factor model was suitable for the scale, and factor loading of all items was greater than 0.4. Model fitting parameters of confirmatory factor analysis of the ISE scale were χ2/df = 2.710, Root Mean Square Error Approximation (RMSEA) = 0.079, Standardized Root Mean Square Residual (SRMR) = 0.042, Comparative Fit Index (CFI) = 0.953, and Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI) = 0.939. Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the Chinese ISE was 0.980; split-half coefficient was 0.972 and retest reliability was 0.848 (P < 0.01).

Conclusion

The Chinese ISE scale is a reliable and valid instrument to evaluate the self-efficacy of infertile Chinese women.

Self-efficacy, coping strategies and quality of life in women and men requiring assisted reproductive technology treatments for anatomical or non-anatomical infertility

OBJECTIVE

To examine the magnitude and the predictors of emotional reactions to an infertility diagnosis, comparing women and men who were clinically diagnosed with an anatomical cause of infertility or non-anatomical cause of infertility.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional study involving a total of 133 adults waiting for infertility treatment at the IVF and Infertility Unit of the S. Orsola University Hospital in Bologna (Italy). Of these, 107 patients (55 with anatomical causes of infertility and 52 with non-anatomical causes of infertility; response rate: 80%) took part to the study. After providing informed written consent, each participant was asked to complete the Infertility Self-efficacy Scale, the Fertility Quality of Life, and the Brief Coping Orientation to Problem Experienced, which they returned at their second access to the Unit. Differences between the groups were analyzed through a series of univariate ANOVA, whereas a multiple regression analysis was used to jointly examine the predictors of fertility quality of life.

RESULTS

Results showed both gender related and diagnosis related differences. Women had statistically significant lower scores than men on the Infertility Self-Efficacy Scale and on the global, emotional, and mind-body subscales of the Fertility Quality of Life, while they scored significantly higher on the emotion focused and socially supported subscales of the Coping Orientation to Problem Experienced. Independently of gender, patients with non-anatomical causes of infertility scored poorly than patients with anatomical causes of infertility on the relational subscale of the Fertility Quality of Life and on the Avoidant scale of the Brief Coping Orientation to Problem Experienced. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that higher levels of self-efficacy and a lower use of avoidant coping strategies predicted a more positive quality of life over and above gender and cause of infertility.

CONCLUSION

This study partly confirms data on gender differences in experiencing the psychological burden of infertility and adds some new information, particularly with respect to the prediction of quality of life indicators over and above infertility cause.

Perceived Social Support and Life Satisfaction in Infertile Women Undergoing Treatment: A Moderated Mediation Model

Perceived social support is positively related to life satisfaction in infertile women. Whereas, the underlying mechanism of this relationship is unclear. The present study aimed to investigate whether self-compassion mediated the relationship of perceived social support with life satisfaction and whether infertility self-efficacy moderated the relationship between perceived social support and self-compassion in infertile women. A total of 290 infertile women in mainland China undergoing treatment completed an online survey assessing perceived social support, life satisfaction, self-compassion, and infertility self-efficacy. The results supported the mediation model that perceived social support was associated with life satisfaction via self-compassion. Besides, infertility self-efficacy moderated the relationship between perceived social support and self-compassion. Specifically, perceived social support displayed a stronger predictive effect on self-compassion when infertile women had higher level of infertility self-efficacy.

Spirituality, infertility-related stress, and quality of life in Brazilian infertile couples: Analysis using the actor-partner interdependence mediation model

Infertility has a stressful impact on both partners, with adverse effects on the quality of life of infertile couples. Spirituality is a meaning-based strategy that can protect couples against infertility's negative impact on quality of life, but analysis of this mediator relationship in infertile couples has not been reported. We adopted a dyadic approach and used the actor-partner interdependence mediation model to examine whether and how women's and men's spirituality was associated with their own and their partners' infertility-related stress and quality of life. In 2014, 152 infertile couples starting their first fertility treatment at a private clinic in Brazil were recruited and completed self-reports of spirituality, infertility-related stress, and quality of life. Results indicated that women's and men's level of spirituality was positively associated with their own quality of life directly and indirectly, by reducing their own infertility-related stress. Their spirituality was associated with an increase in their partners' quality of life only indirectly, by reducing their partners' infertility-related stress. Findings highlight the importance of assessing and promoting spirituality as a coping resource that infertile women and men might use to deal with the stress of infertility and reduce its adverse effects on quality of life.

Sexual satisfaction among involuntarily childless women: A cross-cultural study in Italy and Brazil

Infertility has been negatively associated with sexual satisfaction. This study aimed to estimate the relation of infertility to sexual satisfaction from a cross-cultural perspective, comparing Italian and Brazilian women. Between June 2012 and January 2013, 528 women seeking assisted reproduction technology (ART) treatment in Italy (39%) or Brazil (61%) completed self-reports of sexual satisfaction (ISS) and infertility-related stress in the marital domain (IRS). IRS was the same across countries. ISS differed, with 34.31% of the Italians and 43.52% of the Brazilians being sexually dissatisfied at a clinical level (ISS score >30). Multiple logistic regression models showed that being sexually dissatisfied at a clinical level was associated with lower education and higher IRS among Italian women, regardless of having a diagnosed cause of infertility. It was instead associated with higher IRS only among the Brazilian women who had a diagnosed cause of infertility. These findings suggest that, regardless of nationality, sexual satisfaction and infertility-related stress need to be addressed in the treatment of infertile women turning to ART. However, as factors associated with these dimensions vary across countries, interventions to promote sexual satisfaction among infertile women should be adapted to their specific socio-cultural context.

Factors Associated With Marital Satisfaction in Infertile Couple: A Comprehensive Literature Review

Background:

Many factors impact on marital satisfaction. Related factors include demographic factors, assisted reproductive techniques, psychological health, quality of life, psychological, socioeconomic and family support, and sexual function.

Methods:

This study is a literature review of research studies conducted on factors associated with marital satisfaction in infertile couples. The current literature review search was undertaken using multiple databases selected from articles pertinent to the study. The selection of subjects was undertaken from1990 through 2015. The methodological quality was analyzed based on a checklist adopted from a systematic review. Quality assessment of full text studies was finally carried out by two reviewers.

Results:

The initial search yielded a list of 445 papers, and then reviewers studied titles and abstracts. Thereafter, 69 papers were incorporated, and researchers reviewed summaries of all of the searched articles. Finally, the researchers utilized the data gained from 64 full articles so as to compile this review paper. Reviewing the studies conducted on marital satisfaction, they classified related findings into 6 categories: demographic factors, using fertility assisting methods, psychological health, life quality, economic, social, and family support, and sexual function.

Conclusion:

The results of this review article depicted that various factors play role in creating marriage life satisfaction in an infertile couple, so that paying attention to them can play an important role in continuing their treatment. Thus, to identify such factors is considered essential in their treatment protocol highly based on culture. Of the drawbacks of this research is that it has tried at best to employ the studies belonging to diverse countries with different cultures. Also, the number of the papers was considerably limited.

A randomized controlled trial of the effects of nursing care based on Watson's Theory of Human Caring on distress, self-efficacy and adjustment in infertile women

AIMS

To investigate the effects of nursing care based on the Theory of Human Caring on distress caused by infertility, perceived self-efficacy and adjustment levels.

BACKGROUND

Infertility leads to individual, familial and social problems. Nursing care standards for women affected by infertility have yet to emerge.

DESIGN

A randomized controlled trial.

METHODS

This study was conducted from May 2010-February 2011, with 105 Turkish women with infertility (intervention group: 52, control group: 53). We collected data using the Infertility Distress Scale, the Turkish-Infertility Self Efficacy Scale Short Form and the Turkish-Fertility Adjustment Scale. The intervention group received nursing care based on the Theory of Human Caring. Data were analysed using t-tests, chi-square tests and intention-to-treat analyses.

RESULTS

The intervention and control groups significantly differed with regard to infertility distress, self-efficacy and adjustment levels. The intervention group's mean self-efficacy score increased by seven points and adjustment score decreased by seven points (in a positive direction). In addition, there was a significant reduction in infertility distress scores in the intervention group, but there was no change in the control group.

CONCLUSION

Nursing care based on the Theory of Human Caring decreased the negative impact of infertility in women receiving infertility treatment and increased self-efficacy and adjustment.

Cultural Validation of the Turkish Version of the Infertility Self-Efficacy Scale–Short Form (TISE-SF)

Purpose: To translate and test the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Infertility Self-Efficacy Scale–Short Form (TISE-SF). Methods: The convenience sample consisted of 120 infertile women. A psychometric research design was used with content and construct validity and reliability. Results: Cronbach’s alpha of .78 showed moderate reliability, whereas item–total correlations ranged from .30 to .54. Factor analysis extracted a single component, explaining 40.3% of the variance. Kendall W showed agreement with each expert regarding the appropriateness of the items, confirming the content validity of the translated TISE-SF. Conclusion: The results supported the construct validity and reliability of the TISE-SF for measuring infertility self-efficacy in a population of Turkish women. Implications: Evaluating infertile women’s perception of self-efficacy with the TISE-SF may be useful in clinical studies in Turkey. TISE-SF can be used by professionals as a counseling tool to help guide women in managing their treatments at infertility centers.

Stress and anxiety scores in first and repeat IVF cycles: a pilot study

Background

The role of stress in reproduction, particularly during treatment for infertility, has been of considerable interest; however, few studies have objectively measured stress and anxiety over the course of the IVF cycle or compared the experience of first-time and repeat patients.

Methods

This prospective cohort pilot study enrolled 44 women undergoing IVF at a university-based clinic to complete the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Infertility Self-Efficacy Scale (ISES) at three time points prior to ovarian stimulation (T1), one day prior to oocyte retrieval (T2), and 5–7 days post embryo transfer (T3).

Results

Mean STAI State scores were significantly elevated at all three time points (p<0.01). STAI State and PSS mean values did not change over time and did not differ in first-time vs. repeat patients. Self-efficacy (ISES) scores declined over time, with a greater decline for repeat patients. Of the 36 women who completed a cycle, 15 achieved clinical pregnancy. Using logistic regression modeling, all scores at T2 were correlated with pregnancy outcome with lower scores on the STAI State and PSS and higher scores on the ISES associated with higher pregnancy rates.

Conclusions

Stress and anxiety levels remained elevated across all cycles. Women with lower stress and anxiety levels on the day prior to oocyte retrieval had a higher pregnancy rate. These results emphasize the need to investigate stress reduction modalities throughout the IVF cycle.