Journal of Reproduction & Infertility

Journal of Reproduction & Infertility

Effects of Group Counseling on Stress and Gender-Role Attitudes in Infertile Women: A Clinical Trial

Authors
Zeinab Ehsan 1
Mansooreh Yazdkhasti 2
Mitra Rahimzadeh 3
Mina Ataee 4
Sara Esmaelzadeh-Saeieh 2
1 Student Research Committee, School of Medical Sciences, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
2 Non-communicable Diseases Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
3 Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
4 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinical Research Development Center of Kamali Hospital, School of Medical Sciences, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
Abstract
Background: Infertility stress can have a devastating impact on the lives of couples and influence their physical and psychological health. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of group counseling on female stress and gender-role attitudes in infertile women. Methods: The present study is a randomized clinical trial conducted on 90 infertile women referred to Rooyesh Infertility Treatment Center in the city of Karaj, Iran. The convenience sampling method was used. Samples were divided into intervention and control groups through four-block random allocations. Accordingly, the intervention group received five-session group counselling and the control group only received routine care. Newton’s fertility problem inventory (FPI) and gender role questionnaire (GRQ) were used for collecting data before, after, and one month after the intervention. The significance level was set at 0.05. Results: The result showed a significant relationship between gender role attitude and stress in infertile women (p=0.03) and indirect association between of them (r=0.13). And also repeated measures test indicated that length of time had affected the total scores of infertility stress (p<0.001) and gender role attitude scores (p=0.001) and there was a significant difference between the two groups in infertility stress scores (p<0.001) and gender role attitude scores (p=0.001). Discussion: Group counseling can be used in stress reduction and also improved gender role attitude of infertile women.
Keywords
counseling
Gender role
Infertility
Stress
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Journal of Reproduction & Infertility
Volume 20, Issue 3
Summer 2019
Pages 169-177