Determination of the Relationship between the Levels of Psychological Effects of Infertility and Social Support Perceived by Primary Infertile Women

Aim: This study aims to determine the relationship between the levels of psychological effects of infertility and social support perceived by primary infertile women and the factors affecting them. Material and method: This cross-sectional analytics study was conducted in an University Hospital Assisted Reproduction Techniques Center in the Province of Ankara between February 20, 2016 and November 21, 2017. The sample consisted of 270 women who admitted to the relevant center between the dates specified and agreed to participate in the study. “Questionnaire”, “Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale (MPSSS)” and “Infertility Distress Scale (IDS)” were used in the data collection. Results: It was determined that the mean total score of women in IDS was 37.83±8.31. The women's MPSSS scores were 20.66±6.16 points in the friends sub-scale, 22.91±5.74 points in the family sub-scale, and 19.90±6.87 points in the special someone sub-scale. It was determined that the total score of the women in the MPSSS was 63.48±15.90 points. It was determined that there was weak, but significant, negative correlation between IDS and sub-scales of MPSSS and its total score (r:-.268, p<0.001). According to some characteristics of women such as age, education levels, working conditions, forms of marriage, duration of marriage, duration of infertility, knowledge of the cause of infertility, the current treatment stage, the difference between the mean scores of the IDS and MPSSS was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was determined that primary infertile women who were included in the study had higher perceived social support from their parents and spouses, had moderate level of psychological, negative impact from infertility, and the negative impact was found to decrease as their perceived social support increases. It was determined that some demographic, reproductive and infertile characteristics of women affected their perceived social support and psychological impact of infertility