Infertility-related stress and depressive symptoms – the role of experiential avoidance: a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT

Objective: The current study aimed to explore the mediating role of experiential avoidance in the relationship between infertility-related stress (impact of infertility in women’s life and representations about the importance of parenthood) and depressive symptoms.

Background: Infertility is a stress inducing condition presenting many challenges to individuals facing this diagnosis, particularly to the ones who decide to pursue medical treatment. One of its consequences may be the experience of depressive symptoms which have also been associated with increased infertility-related stress. Moreover, experiential avoidance, conceptualised as an emotion regulation process, has also been connected to psychopathological symptoms, particularly depressive symptoms.

Methods: The sample consisted of 124 women presenting an infertility diagnosis who were pursuing medical treatment for fertility problems. Participants were recruited through the national patients’ association website and completed the following self-report instruments: a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire, the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire–II (AAQ-II), the Fertility Problem Inventory (FPI) and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales 21 (DASS-21).

Results: Results showed that representations about the importance of parenthood were associated with depressive symptoms indirectly, throughout the association with the impact of infertility in women’s life and use of experiential avoidance.

Conclusions: Experiential avoidance can be considered a relevant emotion regulation process to be targeted in psychological intervention programs for women facing infertility.

KEYWORDS:

• Infertility
• Infertility-related stress
• Depressive symptoms
• Experiential avoidance
• Mediation analysis

Acknowledgments

The authors thank all the participants in the study for their contribution. The authors also like to thank the APFertilidade (national patients association) for the support provided.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.