Assessment of psychological distress among infertile women
Paper Details
Assessment of psychological distress among infertile women
Abstract
Psychological distress is a prevalent issue among infertile women, encompassing symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and stress, which can significantly impact their mental well-being. The study employed a cross-sectional research design to assess the prevalence of psychological distress among infertile women attending HealthPlus Fertility and Women’s Health Center in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A sample of 202 infertile women participated in this study and filled the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). The data were analyzed using SPSS software. In terms of psychological distress levels, the mean scores on the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress subscales of the DASS-21 indicated that participants exhibited normal levels of depression (80.7%), anxiety (74.3%), and stress (95%). Few participants reported mild levels of depression (9.9%), anxiety (9.4%), and stress (3%), while a small subset displayed moderate levels of depression (8.4%), anxiety (14.4%), and stress (2%). No participants reached the threshold for severe or extremely severe levels of depression, anxiety, or stress. Furthermore, statistical analyses revealed no significant differences in depression, anxiety, and stress levels based on age (F = 0.181, p = 0.835), educational level (stress: F = 1.429, p = 0.235; anxiety: F = 0.384, p = 0.764; depression: F = 0.824, p = 0.482), marital status (stress: F = 0.939, p = 0.393; anxiety: F = 1.321, p = 0.269; depression: F = 0.386, p = 0.680), or the period of infertility (stress: t(200) = -1.463, p = 0.145; anxiety: t(200) = -0.889, p = 0.375). In conclusion, this study revealed that infertile women in the sample experienced normal levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. No significant differences in psychological distress levels were found based on age, educational level, marital status, or the period of infertility.
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