The role of partner support in infertility-related quality of life in couples seeking fertility treatment

Abstract

Infertility is a common issue, with significant impacts on couples’ lives. Infertility and its treatments can place considerable stress on both partners and lead to relationship insecurity. Several researchers have shown that infertility can reduce the quality of life of both members of the couple. Since partners represent the main source of support for each other in the context of infertility, examining partner support as a potential protective factor for these couples seems highly justified. The objective of this study was to examine the association between partner support and infertility-related quality of life assessed 3 months later among 83 couples using medically assisted reproduction. Partners individually completed online questionnaires at baseline and 3 months later. Path analyses using the actor-partner interdependence model revealed that a person’s perception of greater emotional, informational, and tangible partner support was associated with their own higher emotional and relational infertility-related quality of life 3 months later. Women’s perception of greater physical support was also associated with their partner’s higher relational quality of life. The findings suggest that interventions targeting partner support could reduce the negative effects of infertility and its treatments on infertile couples’ quality of life.

LAY SUMMARY

Infertility can increase conjugal problems and enhance negative emotions in partners. Our results suggest that even small actions from our partner can make us feel supported when undergoing medically assisted reproduction and improve quality of life. Fertility clinics could highlight the benefits of partner support to help couples preserve their relationship.

Keywords:

• Infertility
• medically assisted reproduction
• partner support
• quality of life
• longitudinal design
• dyadic design

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the fertility clinics staff who collaborated for the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

K. Péloquin received funding from the Fonds de recherche du Québec—Société et Culture for conducting this study.