"We're in this together": Attachment insecurities, dyadic coping strategies, and relationship satisfaction in couples involved in medically assisted reproduction

Relevance of Positive Dyadic Coping for Couples Undergoing Assisted Reproduction Treatments: A Systematic Review

The present study investigates the impact of positive dyadic coping strategies on the physical and mental health of couples undergoing assisted reproductive treatments (ART). A systematic literature search was conducted in databases, including ProQuest, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, adhering to the PRISMA guidelines. From an initial pool of 1061 studies, 23 were selected for final analysis, encompassing a total of 7079 participants. The findings indicate that positive dyadic coping may significantly enhance mental health, couple adjustment and satisfaction, self-esteem, and quality of life in couples undergoing ART. The quality of the included studies was rated as moderate to high. The study concludes that integrating positive dyadic coping strategies into psychological intervention programs and providing psychological support within the healthcare system may be essential for couples undergoing ART.

A Dyadic Study of Attachment, Coping, and Quality of Life in Couples Seeking Fertility Treatment

This study examined attachment insecurities, infertility-specific coping strategies, and quality of life (QoL) in 87 couples seeking fertility treatment. Partners completed self-report measures. Path analyses showed that women's and men's attachment anxiety were associated with their own lower QoL, whereas attachment avoidance was associated with their own and their partner's lower QoL. Adaptive coping in men and women were associated with women's higher QoL. Non-adaptive coping was associated with men and women's lower QoL. Coping strategies explained the associations between attachment and QoL. This highlights the importance of individual and dyadic factors for understanding QoL in couples seeking fertility treatment.

Attachment and Sexual Functioning in Couples Seeking Fertility Treatment: The Role of Infertility-Specific Coping Strategies

Couples facing infertility often experience sexual difficulties. Yet, little is known about the factors associated with these difficulties. We examined whether infertility-related coping strategies explain the associations between attachment insecurities (anxiety, avoidance) and sexual function and satisfaction in 97 couples seeking fertility treatment. Anxiety was associated with one's lower sexual satisfaction and function via self-neglect coping strategies. Anxiety was also associated with the partner's lower sexual satisfaction via self-blame coping. Avoidance was associated with lower partner support-seeking and sexual satisfaction. These findings support the roles of attachment and coping in the experience of sexual difficulties among couples seeking fertility treatment.

Relationship Between Dyadic Coping with Anxiety and Depression in Infertile Couples: Gender Differences and Dyadic Interaction

BACKGROUND

This study aims to examine the relationship between anxiety and depression and dyadic coping in infertile couples, exploring gender differences and dyadic interactions in these associations.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 288 couples recruited from the First Affiliated Hospital of Lanzhou University between November 2021 and November 2022. The Dyadic Coping Scale, Anxiety Scale, and Depression Scale were utilized to measure dyadic coping, anxiety, and depression, respectively. The Actor-Partner Interdependence Model was used to analyze the actor effect and partner effect.

RESULTS

Wives exhibited significantly higher anxiety and depression scores compared to husbands (p<0.001). No statistically significant difference was found in dyadic coping between wives and husbands. Positive dyadic coping in infertile couples had significant actor effects on anxiety and depression (p<0.05) and partner effects (p<0.05). Positive dyadic coping negatively predicted anxiety and depression of oneself and one's partner. Negative dyadic coping in infertile couples also had significant actor effects on anxiety and depression (p<0.05) and partner effects (p<0.05). Negative dyadic coping positively predicted anxiety and depression of oneself and one's partner.

CONCLUSION

The dyadic coping style of infertile couples has both actor and partner effects on their own and their partner's anxiety and depression. Anxiety and depression in infertile couples are influenced by their own and their partner's dyadic coping style, respectively. Therefore, dyadic coping serves as an important indicator for predicting psychological outcomes in these couples.

Deafening Silence of Male Infertility

Think about 6 loved ones of reproductive age in your life. Now imagine that 1 of these 6 individuals is suffering from infertility. Perhaps they feel alone and isolated, unable to discuss their heartbreak with their closest friends, family, and support network. Suffering in silence. In this editorial, we discuss the infertility journey through the lens of the patients, the providers, and the scientists who struggle with infertility each and every day. Our goal is to open a dialogue surrounding infertility, with an emphasis on dismantling the longstanding societal barriers to acknowledging male infertility as a disease. Through education, communication, compassion, and advocacy, together we can all begin to break the deafening silence of male infertility.