Well-being and relationship satisfaction of couples dealing with an in vitro fertilization/ intracytoplasmic sperm injection procedure: a multilevel approach on the role of self-criticism, dependency, and romantic attachment
Received 14 September 2007; received in revised form 14 November 2007; accepted 16 November 2007. published online 18 February 2008.
Objective
To extend existing research on the psychological impact of IVF by studying the association between the psychosocial factors of self-criticism and dependency, and romantic attachment, with the well-being and relationship satisfaction of couples across the different phases of IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment.
Design
Prospective, three-wave study (i.e., from start of IVF/ICSI treatment, to 3- and 6-month follow-up).
Setting
University hospital.
Patient(s)
Seventy couples in IVF/ICSI treatment.
Intervention(s)
Psychometric tests were administered at first visit of IVF/ICSI treatment, and at 3- and 6-month follow-up.
Results demonstrated that preexisting psychosocial factors such as self-criticism, dependency, and romantic attachment are more important factors for psychological well-being and relationship satisfaction during IVF/ICSI than gender and treatment-related factors such as duration of fertility problems. In addition, multilevel analysis, a statistical method that is required for the analysis of longitudinal couple data and decomposes variation in three levels (i.e., time, individuals, and couples), showed more variation in psychological well-being and relationship satisfaction between couples, than between individuals and different time measurements.
Conclusion(s)
Preexisting personality factors and being embedded within a certain couple relationship are important factors for the psychological well-being and relationship satisfaction during IVF/ICSI.
aDepartment of Psychology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
cDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
bUniversity Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven University Fertility Centre, Leuven, Belgium
Reprint requests: Benedicte Lowyck, Ph.D., Department of Psychology, University of Leuven, Tiensestraat 102, 3000 Leuven, Belgium (FAX: +32-16-325920).
B.L. has nothing to disclose. P.L. has nothing to disclose. J.C. has nothing to disclose. T.D. has received research funding from Merck-Serono, Pfizer, Ferring, and Organon. E.B. has nothing to disclose. K.D. has received honoraria from Boehringer Ingleheim, Eli Lilly, Lundbeck, and Wyeth.
ABSTRACT