Psychological coping strategies associated with improved mental health in the context of infertility
Abstract
To examine the use of psychological coping strategies across the menstrual cycle in relation to within-person changes in depressed mood, anxious mood, and infertility-related distress, in a sample of women struggling to conceive. Sixty-five women from Canada and the USA (aged 19-43 years) trying to conceive naturally for ≥ 12 months were recruited via social media. On the first day of each participant's menstrual period, and every 3 days until the end of their cycle, participants completed questionnaires assessing depressed and anxious mood, and infertility-related distress. In addition, participants completed a 13-item coping questionnaire assessing four general coping strategies: emotional suppression, active coping, engagement in activities unrelated to trying to conceive, and downplaying the importance of biological children. The within-person effect of daily coping strategies on person-centred mood and infertility-related distress was examined. Day-to-day use of behavioural engagement was associated with lower person-centred depression scores, β(SEM) = - 3.25(.51), p < .0001, anxiety scores, β(SEM) = - 2.07(.36), p < .0001, and infertility-related daily distress, β(SEM) = - .64(.22), p = .005. Downplaying the importance of biological children was also associated with person-centred depression scores, β(SEM) = 1.14(.47), p = .016. Neither active coping nor emotional suppression was related to depression, anxiety, or distress (ps > .0125). These findings point to promising targets of future intervention studies, including promoting increased engagement in behaviours unrelated to conceiving and promoting acceptance, rather than denial and resistance, of feelings throughout the infertility journey.
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Rates of clinically significant depression and anxiety are equally high in non-treatment-seeking infertile women.
“and the rates are equally high in non-treatment-seeking infertile women.11”
From Infertility-related distress and clinical targets for psychotherapy: A qualitative study (2021) · cites this paper as [11]
Attempting to conceive without medical intervention is associated with similar rates of psychopathology as medically assisted reproduction.
“Attempting to conceive without medical intervention is associated with similar rates of psychopathology [8, 9].”
From Acceptance and commitment therapy adapted for women with infertility: a pilot study of the Infertility ACTion program. (2024) · cites this paper as [9]
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- Authors
- Chernoff, A., Balsom, A. A., & Gordon, J. L.
- Affiliations
- University of Regina (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Gordon, Jennifer L.
- Venue
- Archives of Women s Mental Health
- Published
- 2020-04-24
- Volume
- 24
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 73-83
- ISSN
- 1434-1816 (ISSN-L)
- 1435-1102
- OpenAlex
- W3018301621
- Cited by
- 32
- References
- 51
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 2
- FWCI
- 2.64
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Archives of Women s Mental Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (4577)
- Canada Research Chairs (NA)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Reproductive Health and Technologies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Keywords
- infertility, coping strategies, depressive mood, anxious mood, menstrual cycle, within-person change, emotional suppression, active coping, behavioral engagement, women's mental health
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Anxiety, Canada, Child, Depression, Female, Humans, Infertility, Mental Health, Surveys and Questionnaires, Stress, Psychological, Young Adult
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