Dyadic and emotional adjustment in infertile couples

• Published date: 01 December 2023
• Author: Lorena García‐Quintáns,Rosa M. Limiñana‐Gras,M. Pilar Sánchez‐López,Rosa M. Patró‐Hernández
• Date: 01 December 2023
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12837

RESEARCH

Dyadic and emotional adjustment in infertile couples

Lorena García-Quint

ans

1

|Rosa M. Limiñana-Gras

2,3

|

M. Pilar S

anchez-L

opez

4

|Rosa M. Patr

o-Hern

andez

2

1

University Hospital of Cabueñes (Gij

on),

Health Service of the Principality of Asturias,

Spain

2

Department of Personality and Psychological

Assessment and Treatment, University of

Murcia, Murcia, Spain

3

Quir

onsalud Dexeus Murcia Assisted

Reproduction Clinic, Murcia, Spain

4

Research Group of Psychological Styles,

Gender and Health (EPSY), Complutense

University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain

Correspondence Rosa M. Patr

o Hern

andez,

University of Murcia, Faculty of Psychology,

Campus Universitario de Espinardo, 30100

Murcia, Spain.

Email: rosapatro@um.es

Abstract

Objective: This research evaluated dyadic adjustment and

analyzed its contribution to emotional health and interper-

sonal resources in Spanish couples with reproductive prob-

lems undergoing assisted reproduction treatment.

Background: Many studies described the psychological

challenges of infertile couples experiencing infertility.

Social support, particularly in their relationship, protected

each couple member’s health and quality of life.

Method: Overall, 174 infertile heterosexual couples, selected

from several Spanish reference hospitals, completed ques-

tionnaires regarding personal and clinical data, emotional

health, adaptive resources, and dyadic adjustment.

Results: Both partners in couples presenting with infertility

showed less emotional maladjustment and more dyadic

adjustment than the normative values. Women in couples

presenting with infertility reported greater emotional mal-

adjustment and interpersonal resources and fewer personal

resources than men. For women, educational level, age,

affective expression, and dyadic consensus seem to act as

protective factors, predicting less emotional maladjust-

ment and more adaptive resources. For men, the couple’s

relationship duration, affective expression, dyadic cohe-

sion, and dyadic satisfaction contributed to reduced emo-

tional maladjustment and accounted for greater adaptive

resources.

Conclusion: Greater dyadic adjustment appears to protect

the emotional health of women and men seeking infertility

treatment.

Implications: Support programs targeting dyadic adjust-

ment may be helpful to couples undergoing fertility

treatment.

KEYWORDS

adaptive resources, assisted reproductive technology, dyadic adjustment,

emotional adjustment, infertility, psychological health

Received: 6 July 2021Revised: 13 December 2022Accepted: 26 December 2022

DOI: 10.1111/fare.12837

© 2023 National Council on Family Relations.

3152 Family Relations. 2023;72:3152–3166.wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/fare