Examination of the concern of infertile individuals in terms of social support perception and martial adjustment

Infertility may negatively affect the emotional states, social lives and marital relationships of individuals. The study was conducted as a descriptive study to examine the concerns of infertile individuals in terms of perceived social support and marital adjustment. The study was carried out between 10 October 2016 and 14 April 2017 in the in vitro fertility clinic of a private hospital and in the infertility clinic of a university hospital. The research sample consisted of total of 261 infertile individuals including 184 female and 77 male, agreed to participate in the study. Data were collected by filling out Individual Recognition Form, State and Trait Anxiety Inventory STA I-II, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and Marital Adjustment Scale. The average age of the women was 32.16 ± 6.98, the average age of the men was 33.56 ± 6.79, average marriage duration of participant was 5.93 ± 4.937 years and the average infertility duration of participant was 4.49 ± 3.861 years in the study. 30.3% of women and 31.1% of men were graduated from a universty. It was found that 70.1% of the participants had moderate income, 75.1% lived in the city and 37.6% of participant's infertility reason were unexplained infertility. The total score of the participants' State Anxiety Inventory was 38.62 ± 11.64, Trait Anxiety Inventory was 44.96 ± 8.44, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support was 54.23 ± 20.99, Marital Adjustment Scale was 46.2 ± 8.92. It was found that decrease in the anxiety of the infertile individuals increase perceived social support and marital adjustment of them (p <0.05). It is foreseen that the infertile individuals' anxiety levels with the physical and psychological problems that may be caused by anxiety can be reduced by midwifery counseling.