Relationship Satisfaction Among Infertile Couples: Implications of Gender and Self-Identification

Greil, Arthur L.; Slauson-Blevins, Kathleen; McQuillan, Julia; Lowry, Michele H.; Burch, Andrea R.; Shreffler, Karina M.

doi:10.1177/0192513x17699027

Cited by 37Reproductive Health and TechnologiesAttachment and Relationship DynamicsFamily Dynamics and Relationships

Relationship Satisfaction Among Infertile Couples: Implications of Gender and Self-Identification

Greil, Arthur L., Slauson-Blevins, Kathleen, McQuillan, Julia, Lowry, Michele H., Burch, Andrea R., Shreffler, Karina M.·2018·Journal of Family Issues

DOI 10.1177/0192513x17699027

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Abstract

We use path analysis to analyze heterosexual couples from the U.S. National Survey of Fertility Barriers, a probability-based sample of women and their male partners. We restrict the sample to couples in which the women are infertile. We estimate a path model of each partner’s relationship satisfaction on indicators of self-identifying as having a fertility problem or not at the individual and couple levels. We find a gender effect: for women, but not men, relationship satisfaction was significantly higher when neither partner self-identified as having a fertility problem. Women’s relationship satisfaction exerted a strong influence on their partners’ relationship satisfaction, but no similar association between men’s relationship satisfaction and their partner’s satisfaction was found. In infertile couples, higher levels of perceived social support are associated with higher levels of relationship satisfaction for women but not for men.

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MBSR incorporates mindfulness meditation and yoga, helping individuals manage daily stress and emotional pain, building resilience and enhancing coping skills for infertility challenges.
“Mindfulness-based stress reduction incorporates mindfulness meditation and yoga that helps individuals to manage daily stress and emotional pain, and builds resilence [44]. By fostering greater awareness and acceptance of one’s emotional state, MBSR can enhance coping skills for individuals facing infertility challenges [45].”
From Psychosocial interventions for improving marital intimacy, sexual satisfaction, and quality of life of women and couples with infertility problems in low and middle-income countries: Systematic review protocol (2025) · cites this paper as [44]

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Authors: Greil, A. L., Slauson-Blevins, K., McQuillan, J., Lowry, M. H., Burch, A. R., & Shreffler, K. M.
Affiliations: Alfred University (US)
Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA
University of Nebraska–Lincoln (US)
Oklahoma State University (US)
Corresponding author: Greil, Arthur L.
ORCID: Greil, Arthur L.
McQuillan, Julia
Burch, Andrea R.
Shreffler, Karina M.
Venue: Journal of Family Issues
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Published: 2017-03-22
Volume: 39
Issue: 5
Pages: 1304-1325
ISSN: 0192-513X (ISSN-L)
1552-5481
DOI: 10.1177/0192513x17699027
OpenAlex: W2789969731
Cited by: 37
References: 88
Citations by year: 2026: 4 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 3
FWCI: 4.14
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations: Journal of Family Issues (publishedVersion)
Lincoln (University of Nebraska) (submittedVersion)
Funders: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R01-HD044144)
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Reproductive Health and Technologies
Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
Social Sciences › Demography › Family Dynamics and Relationships
Keywords: infertility, relationship satisfaction, couples, gender differences, perceived social support, heterosexual couples

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Relationship Satisfaction Among Infertile Couples: Implications of Gender and Self-Identification

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