Hum. Reprod. Advance Access originally published online on December 9, 2008
Human Reproduction 2009 24(3):524-529; doi:10.1093/humrep/den438
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Personality and intrapersonal and interpersonal functioning of women starting their first IVF treatment
1 Department of Psychology, University of Leuven, Tiensestraat 102, 3000 Leuven, Belgium 2 University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium
3 Correspondence address. Tel: +32-16-32-59-92; Fax: +32-16-32-59-20; E-mail: benedicte.lowyck{at}psy.kuleuven.be
BACKGROUND: IVF treatment involves a reassessment of issues concerning autonomy and relatedness. This study aims to extend prior studies on the psychological impact of IVF/ICSI by studying the association between the personality dimensions of Self-Criticism and Dependency with the psychological well-being and quality of the couple relationship for women starting their first IVF treatment.
METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of 68 women starting their first IVF treatment at the Leuven University Fertility Centre of the University of Leuven, Belgium. All women were administered validated self-report measures assessing Self-Criticism and Dependency, negative life events, psychological well-being, relationship satisfaction, and relationship and sexual concerns. Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated between all study variables, followed by four separate hierarchical multiple regression analyses for psychological well-being, relationship satisfaction, and relationship and sexual concerns.
RESULTS: High Self-Criticism was negatively associated with psychological well-being (r = –0.63, P < 0.001) and relationship satisfaction (r = –0.29, P < 0.05), and positively associated with relationship (r = 0.39, P < 0.01) and sexual (r = 0.37, P < 0.01) concerns. High Dependency was negatively associated with psychological well-being (r = –0.30, P < 0.05), not significantly associated with relationship satisfaction and relationship concerns, and positively related to sexual concerns (r = 0.31, P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: This cross-sectional study suggests that the personality dimensions of Self-Criticism and Dependency may enhance our understanding of the psychological well-being and quality of the couple relationship of women starting their first IVF treatment. However, further prospective research on this topic is needed.
Key words: fertility problems/IVF/psychological well-being/Self-Criticism/Dependency
Submitted on September 24, 2007; resubmitted on August 2, 2008; accepted on September 19, 2008.