Self-reported effects of perceived social support on marital quality in balanced translocation patients and their spouses undergoing preimplantation genetic testing in China: actor–partner interdependence model

Abstract

This study aimed to analyse the relationship between perceived social support and marital quality in balanced translocation patients and their spouses undergoing a preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) treatment cycle in China. The authors assessed the actor and partner effects of perceived social support on marital quality in patient–spouse dyads using a dyadic analysis approach. In total, 59 couples were assessed using self-report questionnaires for marital quality and perceived social support. There were significant differences in marital quality between patients and their spouses (p=.0025) based on the APIM (actor–partner interdependence model) analyses. The perceived social support of both patients (p=.0076) and spouses (p<.001) had a significant effect on individual marital quality for actor effects. Partner effects showed that patients’ perceived social support had a significant effect on spouses’ marital quality (p=.0156) and the spouses’ perceived social support had a significant effect on patients’ marital quality (p=.0084). The findings indicate that the level of perceived social support affected both his/her own marital quality and that of his/her spouse.

Impact Statement

• What is already known on this subject? Infertility and reproductive treatments affect both partners, that is, the couple as a unit and have a negative impact on an individual’s marital satisfaction and social relationships.

• What do the results of this study add? There are significant differences in marital quality between balanced translocation patients and their spouses. Perceived social support significantly correlated with marital quality in both the actor and partner effects.

• What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Health professionals should provide couple-based interventions involving both patients and spouses throughout the PGT treatment to improve perceived social support, thereby improving their marital quality.

Keywords:

• Actor–partner interdependence model
• perceived social support
• marital quality
• preimplantation genetic testing
• balanced translocation

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China under Grant number 2018YFC1004900.