Objective
The aim of this study was to examine the mediating effect of coping strategies on the relationship between stigma and fertility quality of life (FertiQoL) in Chinese infertile women undergoing In Vitro Fertilization Embryo Transfer (IVF-ET).
Methods
In this cross-sectional study, a total of 768 infertile women undergoing IVF-ET were recruited from Assisted Reproductive Center of Shaanxi Province, China. The personal information, infertility stigma scale, coping strategy scale and FertiQoL scale were measured using a set of questionnaires. The multiple mediator model was performed using AMOS 21.0.
Results
The model showed a significant negative direct effect between stigma on FertiQoL (direct effect= -2.375, BC 95% CI= -2.764, -1.987). There were significantly negative indirect effects of stigma on FertiQoL through active-avoidance (indirect effect = -0.706; BC 95% CI = -0.950,-0.497), active-confronting (indirect effect = -0.267; BC 95% CI= -0.414, -0.136) and passive-avoidance (indirect effect= -0.244; BC 95% CI = -0.368,-0.142), respectively. The meaning-based coping played a positive intermediary role (indirect effect=0.105; BC 95% CI = 0.046, 0.190). The model explained 69.4% of the variance in FertiQoL.
Conclusion
Active-avoidance coping strategy is the most important mediator factor between stigma and FertiQoL in infertile women undergoing IVF-ET treatment. Meaning-based coping strategy also plays a positive mediating role between stigma and FertiQoL.