Psychological Distress Experienced by Women with Primary Infertility in Pakistan: Role of Psycho-Social and Cultural Factors

Abstract

This study aims to examine the predictive role of psycho-social factors in psychological distress among women with primary infertility and to explore the nature of mental pressures faced by these women. A sample of 200 women with primary infertility was recruited from various infertility clinics in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. A demographic sheet, Urdu versions of General Health Questionnaire, Couple’s Satisfaction Index-4 (CSI-4) a Self-Report Questionnaire (SCQ) were used to assess psychological distress, marital satisfaction, personal and other family members’ desire for child, available social support, and nature of mental pressures faced by women. About 82% of these women reported distress. The standard multiple regression analysis showed that low marital satisfaction (β =-0.716; p<0.001); woman’s non-work status (β =0.183; p<.001) and high personal desire to have child (β =0.136; p=0.006) were significant predictors. Low social support from mother-in-law (β = 0.286; p<0.001) and high personal (β = -0.188; p<.01) and husband’s desire to have child (β = -0.288; p<.001) influenced marital satisfaction. Besides factors such as criticism, loneliness, inquiries made by other people, fear of husband’s second marriage, quarrelsome in-laws were reported as stressors. Women with primary infertility are at increased risk to experience psychological distress attributable to several social and cultural factors.