The relationship between infertility stress levels and gender roles of infertile couples who want adoption

This study includes couples who could not be parent because of infertility and apply to adopt a child to reach a lifestyle with child. The main aim of this study is to find out the difference between gender and gender role tendencies in terms of stress caused by infertility. Beside this, interpretations and viewpoints on "child" theme of couples who applied to adopt a child have discussed in the study. Study was included both qualitative and quantative methods and has mixed method which includes both explonatory and phenomenological research methods. 49 infertile couple who have applied for adoption to Family, Labour and Social Services Ministry Istanbul Headship and guided to Bakirköy Mental Health Research Hospital for mental health report were participated in the study. Sociodemographic Form were applied to get data about demographic features, data about adoption process and characteristics and clinical variables about infertility. Fertility Stress Inventory and BEM Gender Roles Inventory also applied to obtain data about infertility stress and gender role tendency. Moreover, qualitative data obtained about meaning of "child" and couples' thoughts and emotions were recorded. According to results, infertility stress on social and sexual dimesions have found significantly different between gender roles. Furthermore, meaning of having a child found as in 4 main theme and it has concluded that couples decide to adopt a child because of psychological basis and their social values.