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Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to examine relationships between doctor compassionate love and treatment, relational, and psychological stressors, as well as to identify effective health-care provider compassionate messages. Participants were 233 women who had been treated for infertility in the past 12 months. Doctor compassionate love was directly associated with positive affect during treatment, perceived treatment stress, and self-esteem. Additionally, perceived treatment stress mediated the relationship between doctor compassionate love and social and marital stress, as well as self-esteem and depression. Participants identified five categories of memorable compassionate messages sent by health-care providers, including offering hope, privileging the patient ahead of the self, practicing patient-centeredness, empathizing, and nonverbally communicating. Messages that constituted privileging the patient ahead of the self and nonverbally communicating were significantly more compassionate than those of offering hope. The study provides implications for the clinical treatment of infertile women and a practical tool for doing so compassionately.
Acknowledgments
The University of Denver's Faculty Research Fund (FRF) grant provided financial support for this study. The author wishes to thank the participants and those who helped recruit them, Leah Seurer and Jenna Shimkowski for their assistance with coding, as well as Drs. Keli Ryan Steuber and Jordan Soliz for their generous advice on the project.