Examination of stress, stress coping strategies and self-efficacy levels in couples receiving infertility treatment

This study was conducted to examine stress related to infertility, stress coping strategies, and levels of infertility self-efficacy in couples undergoing infertility treatment, and to determine the relationships between these variables. The sample for this descriptive and correlational study consisted of a total of 349 patients, including 224 women and 125 men, who applied to the Assisted Reproductive Treatment Centre at Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital between December 2024 and April 2025 and were selected by simple random sampling. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using the Demographic Information Form, Infertility Stress Scale (ISS), Coping with Infertility Stress Scale (CISS), and Infertility Self-Efficacy Scale Short Form. The mean age of participants was 32.27±4.73. The couples' infertility stress was generally found to be below average, with women's stress levels higher than men's and the highest stress experienced in the personal domain (personal stress: women 8.83±5.13; men 6.33±4.57). Self-efficacy scores were above average for both women and men, with men's self-efficacy found to be higher (women 21.89±5.75; men 23.62±5.68). In terms of coping levels, the mean scores for active avoidance and active coping were below average in both genders. Women's scores for active avoidance, active coping, and passive avoidance were significantly higher than men's, and no difference was found between genders in terms of finding meaning. The ISÖ subdimensions (personal, marital, social) were positively and moderately correlated with each other. A positive and significant relationship was found between active avoidance and all stress sub-dimensions, while a negative and significant relationship was found between self-efficacy and all stress sub-dimensions. Although the stress level in couples undergoing infertility treatment is generally low, women experience more stress, particularly in the personal domain. Self-efficacy scores in infertile couples are above average for both women and men, with men scoring higher. Active avoidance and active coping scores in coping with stress were below average for both genders. Women's active avoidance, active coping, and passive avoidance scores were significantly higher than men's, while no gender difference was found in meaning-making. The personal, marital, and social subdimensions of infertility stress are positively and moderately related to each other. Active avoidance was positively related to all stress subdimensions, while finding meaning was positively related to all coping subdimensions. A negative and significant relationship was found between self-efficacy and all subdimensions of infertility stress.