Prevalence and predictive factors for infertility-related stress among infertile couples: A cross-sectional study from Jordan and the occupied Palestinian territories

Article Figures & Data

Table 1

- Socio-demographic characteristics of the study sample (N=443).

Variables	n (%)
Hospital
JU	132 (29.8)
JUST	183 (41.3)
Occupied Palestinian territories’ centers	128 (28.9)
Gender
Male	180 (40.6)
Female	263 (59.4)
Weight in kg, mean±SD
Male	80.5±15.2
Female	68.7±12.4
Smoking
Smoker	106 (23.9)
Non-smoker	296 (66.8)
Ex-smoker (more than 6 months)	23 (5.2)
Waterpipe	17 (3.8)
Insurance type
MOH	225 (50.8)
Private	99 (22.4)
Others	32 (7.2)
Suffering from chronic diseases (hypertension, diabetes, heart diseases, respiratory problems, and others)
Yes	59 (13.3)
No	386 (87.1)
Suffering from Vitamin D deficiency
Yes	102 (23.0)
No	318 (71.8)

Values are presented as a number and precentage (%). Some data was missing, subsequently totals do not always add to 443.

JU: Jordan University, JUST: Jordan University of Science and Technology, MOH: Ministry of Health, SD: standard deviation

Table 2

- Infertility characteristics of the study sample at baseline (N=443).

Variables	n (%)
Family type
Nuclear	239 (54.0)
Extended	200 (45.1)
Period of seeking therapy for infertility in years, mean±SD	4.2±4.1
Presence of any close relative who suffers from infertility
Yes	56 (12.6)
No	386 (87.1)
Number of IUI or IVF trials, mean±SD	1.5±1.0
Number of doctors who follow the case, mean±SD	2.8±2.6
Cost of infertility treatment per month in JD, mean±SD	190±395
The ART cost is covered by the insurance
Yes	115 (25.9)
No	328 (74.0)
Seeking any psychological consultation for the infertility related stress
Yes	8 (1.8)
No	304 (68.6)

Values are presented as a number and precentage (%). Some data was missing, subsequently totals do not always add to 443.

SD: standard deviation, IUI: intrauterine insemination, IVF: in vitro fertilisation, JD: Jordanian dinar, ART: assisted reproductive technologies

Table 3

- Summary of different infertility-related stress scores (N=443).

Infertility-related stress scores	Total couples	Male	Female	P-values
Global stress	152.4±21.5	150.6±20.7	153.7±22.1	0.14
Areas of stress
Social concern	31.8±5.8	32.3±4.9	31.5±6.4	0.23
Sexual concern	27.1±6.5	27.1±6.1	27.1±6.8	0.92
Relationship concern	33.8±5.9	34.7±5.7	32.1±5.9	0.008^*
Rejection of child-free lifestyle	25.7±6.6	25.1±6.6	26.1±6.5	0.117
Need for parenthood	36.1±8.0	34.8±7.4	37.1±8.3	0.005^*

Values are presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD).

Table 4

- Assessment of factors affecting global stress score among infertile couples (N=443).

Independent variables	Global stress scores
	Simple linear regression		Stepwise multiple linear regression
	Standardised Coefficients Beta	P-values	Standardised Coefficients Beta	P-values
Age	-0.030	0.584	-	-
Country (Jordan, occupied Palestinian territories)	0.394	<0.001^*	0.244	<0.001^*
Gender (male, female)	0.037	0.477	-	-
Smoking (smoker, non-smoker, ex-smoker, waterpipe)	0.081	0.12	-	-
Family type (nuclear, extended)	0.143	0.006*	0.123	0.035*
Education (illiterate, high school, BSc, or postgraduate)	-0.079	0.128	-	-
Working (yes, no)	0.039	0.460	-	-
Insurance (yes, no)	0.122	0.019^*	0.083	0.161
Whole monthly salary	-0.097	0.138	-	-
Period of marriage in years	0.031	0.552	-	-
Period of being without children in years	0.085	0.102	-	-
ARTs (ovulation induction medication, IVF, IUI, or more than one type)	0.012	0.829	-	-
Number of ART trials	-0.128	0.108	-	-
Number of doctors who follow up the case	-0.133	0.011*	-0.155	0.013*
Cause of infertility (wife, husband, both wife and husband, or unknown cause)	-0.118	0.023*	-0.102	0.084
Cost of ART per month in JD	-0.045	0.474	-	-
Total cost of ART	0.108	0.07	-	-
Presence of any relative suffering from infertility (yes, no)	0.109	0.037^*	0.101	0.081
Suffering from Vitamin D deficiency (yes, no)	0.088	0.099	-	-

↵^* Significant at less than 0.05 level. BSc: Bachelor of Sciences, ARTs: assisted reproductive technologies, IVF: in vitro fertilisation, IUI: intrauterine insemination, JD: Jordanian dinar