Experiential avoidance, self compassion, self judgment and coping styles in infertility.
OBJECTIVES This study sought out to explore the existence of differences regarding emotion regulation processes (psychological inflexibility/experiential avoidance, self judgment and self compassion) and coping styles (emotional/detached, avoidant and rational) in three different groups of couples: 120 fertile couples (FG) 147 couples with an infertility diagnosis who were pursuing medical treatment for their fertility problem(s) (IG) and 59 couples with infertility applying for adoption (AG) STUDY DESIGN Cross sectional survey, using the couple as unit of analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Participants filled in paper pencil questionnaires assessing coping styles, psychological inflexibility/experiential avoidance, self judgment and self compassion. RESULTS IG couples, and particularly women, tend to use more experiential avoidance and self judgment mechanisms and less emotional/detached coping style. When compared to FG couples, IG and AG couples tend to apply more avoidant coping strategies. AG couples showed higher self compassion. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that emotion regulation processes may be an important target in psychological interventions for patients dealing with infertility and with the demands of medical treatment.
Sexual reproductive healthcare official journal of the Swedish Association of Midwives