Exploring Couple-Based Coping Strategies With Infertility: A Qualitative Study

Infertility is a medical condition with associated psychosocial problems on couple's life that requires employing coping strategies using a couple-based approach. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to explore coping strategies using a couple-based approach.

This study used a qualitative content analysis approach and semi-structured interviews with 36 Iranian individuals, selected through the purposeful method and considering maximum diversity in terms of age and cause, type, and duration of infertility, 10 of which couples were conducted in pairs interview. Content analysis was performed using the Granheim and Ludman method.

Three main categories were extracted from data analysis: "coexistence with infertility," "emotional relief," and "consolidating couples' relationships." The coexistence with the infertility category was deduced from consolidating couples' relationships, participation in accepting the responsibility of fertility, and reorganizing married life themes; the emotional relief category was extracted from the spiritual intimacy, the value of married life, and scenario planning themes, and consolidating couples' relationships category was obtained from the dynamic interaction and emotional intimacy themes.

The study results showed that coping strategies could be investigated in three general categories: coexistence with infertility, emotional relief, and consolidating couples' relationships. Therefore, it is recommended to consider these coping strategies in designing and providing counseling services to infertile couples.

The results of the present study expanded our understanding of adaptive coping strategies, recommending these strategies in counseling programs requires a study with a quantitative approach. But the findings are limited in generalizability to Iranian infertile couples actively seeking fertility treatment.