IMPACT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AND QUALITY OF LIFE ON MARITAL SATISFACTION IN WOMEN WITH INFERTILITY

Abstract

The present research aimed to explore the effects of psychological distress and quality of life on marital satisfaction in women diagnosed with miscellaneous infertility disorders. A cross-sectional research design was applied from 1st January 2022 to 30th April 2022 to collect data from the gynecological wards of various hospitals situated in Kharian. The sample size for the infertile women was determined with the help of the Sample Size Calculator, and the purposive sampling technique recruited 385 women diagnosed with infertility problems. Informed consent form along with a demographic sheet, Urdu versions of Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS-21, Husain & Gulzar, 2020), World Health Organization's Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHO QOL-BREF, Lodhi, Raza, Montazeri, Nedjat, Yaseri, & Holakouie-Naieni, 2017) and Marital Satisfaction Scale (MSS, Ayub, 2010) were used to assess psychological distress, quality of life, marital satisfaction among women with infertility. Out of 385, five infertile women filled incomplete questionnaires; therefore were eliminated, and the total sample for the data analysis comprised 380 infertile women (Mage=35.38 years, SD=6.19). The study results showed that there is a significant negative correlation between stress (r= -0.33, p<0.05), anxiety (r= -0.45, p<0.05) and depression (r= -0.52, p<0.05) with the perceived marital satisfaction among infertile women. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the presence of high levels of stress (B= -0.90, F(3, 376) = 61.68, p < .001), anxiety (B= -1.85, F(3, 376) = 61.68, p < .001), and depression (B= -2.53, F(3, 376) = 61.68, p < .001) predicted lower levels of the perceived marital satisfaction in infertile women. Further, two aspects of quality of life comprised of psychological and social relationships significantly predicted marital satisfaction in women diagnosed with infertility disorders. Implications in light of the findings of the present research are discussed.