The influence of emotional state and coping ability on the outcome of the assisted reproductive technology among infertile couples

INTRODUCTION Infertility and its treatment impose significant physical and emotional burden on infertile couples. The most commonly used assisted reproductive technology is the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). Approximately one third of the treatments results in pregnancy. The aim of our study is to explore psychosocial factors that have an influence on the chance of IVF treatment success. METHODS 104 infertile couples undergoing IVF treatment participated in our research, of which 49 couples achieved pregnancy after treatment and 55 couples did not. The emotional state was assessed by the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, the short form of the Beck Depression Inventory and the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The coping abilities were measured by the short form of the Ways of Coping Inventory, the Psychological Immune Competence Inventory and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. The negative life events were assessed by the short and revised form of the Paykel's Life Events Scale. Data were collected at three occasions: at the beginning of the treatment (T1), before embryo transfer (T2), and before pregnancy test (T3). RESULTS According to the most important results of the logistic regression analysis, the outcome of the treatment is negatively influenced by the female (p<0.01) and male age (p<0.05). For women, positive affectivity at T1, the Problem analysis coping strategy, the Sense of self-growth personality trait, the Personal competence and Tolerance of negative affect factors were found to be adaptive in respect of treatment success (p<0.05). For men, the IVF outcome was positively influenced by the lower level of depression at T1, the Problem analysis coping strategy and the Sense of control personality trait (p<0.05). CONCLUSION Emotional attitudes of couples towards childbearing and treatment and their coping mechanisms have an influence on the treatment outcome. Therefore, assessment and conscious shaping of these factors may increase the chance of successful treatment.