A Comparative Study on Personality Traits, Temperament, and Interpersonal Attitudes: Fertile vs Infertile Couples

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Human Development
• Reproductive Health

Background:

• Parenthood is a major life transition impacting couple identity.
• Infertility can create challenges in sexual and mental well-being for couples.
• Personality traits and interpersonal attitudes differ between couples with and without children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate differences in personality, temperament, and interpersonal attitudes between infertile and fertile couples.
• To understand how infertility affects intimacy, communication, and sexual satisfaction within relationships.

Main Methods:

• A nonequivalent comparison group design was used with 408 participants (102 infertile couples, 102 fertile couples) from Bihar, India.
• Purposive sampling method for participant recruitment.
• Standardized psychological assessments including the Eyesenck Personality Questionnaire-S, Formal Characteristics of Behavior Temperament Inventory, and Sack's Sentence Completion Test were administered.

Main Results:

• Infertile couples scored significantly higher on neuroticism and psychoticism traits.
• The infertile group demonstrated higher sensory sensitivity temperament.
• Infertile couples reported significantly greater conflict in family, sexual, interpersonal, and self-related areas.

Conclusions:

• Infertile couples may be more prone to negative emotions, disturbed family relationships, sexual conflicts, and lower self-worth compared to fertile couples.
• The directionality of these associations requires further research, as pre-existing difficulties could influence fertility challenges.
• Understanding these differences is crucial for supporting couples experiencing infertility.