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Quality of Life and Infertility: Influence of Gender, Years of Marital Life, Resilience, and Anxiety

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Abstract

Infertility is one of the most difficult experiences a couple can have in their life time. Epidemiological data suggest that approximately 80 million people worldwide are infertile. The present study was conducted to explore the quality of life of married couples in relation to fertility status, years of marital life, resilience, and anxiety. A sample of 312 participants (156 fertile and infertile couples) was included in the study. The data obtained were analysed using partial least squares-structural equation modelling with quality of life as multi-component endogenous latent variable; fertility status, years of marital life, and gender of the couple as binary coded single-item exogenous variables; and resilience and freedom from anxiety as multi-component mediating variables. In addition, the structural model also included the interaction effect of fertility status, gender, and years of marital life on the mediators and the endogenous variable. Results revealed that about 54 % of variance in the quality of life could be explained using the model. Significant predictors of quality of life included fertility status, resilience, and freedom from anxiety. In addition, the effect of fertility status on quality of life was found to be moderated by both gender and years of marital life. The results also revealed that fertility status, gender, and years of marital life had additional indirect effects on quality of life through their effects on resilience and freedom from anxiety. Similarly, resilience had significant indirect effects on quality of life through its effects on freedom from anxiety.

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  1. Department of Psychology, University of Kerala, Kariavattom Campus, Thiruvananthapuram, 695581, India

    P. R. Jisha & Immanuel Thomas

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  1. P. R. Jisha
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  2. Immanuel Thomas
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Correspondence to Immanuel Thomas.

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Jisha, P.R., Thomas, I. Quality of Life and Infertility: Influence of Gender, Years of Marital Life, Resilience, and Anxiety. Psychol Stud 61, 159–169 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-016-0358-6

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