Being An Infertile Woman in A Highly Fertile Region of Turkey: Stigmatisation and Coping Experiences

Abstract

In many societies, women's status is determined by their fertility and motherhood, and having reproductive disorders creates additional problems for them. This study investigates the stigmatisation of infertile women and how they cope in a region with the highest fertility rate in Turkey. Methods:The sample population this descriptive study comprised of infertile women who applied to the infertility clinic of a university hospital in Sanliurfa. In the pilot study conducted with 19 participants, the stigmatisation score was calculated as 86.1 + 35.6. Based on these values, the sample size obtained was 136 with a margin of error of 6 and confidence level of 95%. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a data collection form, the Infertility Stigma Scale (ISS), and the COPE inventory (COPE). Findings:The mean Infertility Stigma Scale (ISS) total score of participants was found to be 87.6±27.9. Considering the maximum ISS score, it was determined that infertile women experienced a high level of stigmatisation. Findings obtained from the COPE inventory showed that participants mostly used problem-focused coping (59.8 ± 7.6) mechanisms to deal with stress due to infertility and preferred active coping, planning and disengagement. Conclusions:This study shows that socio-demographic and cultural factors affect the level of stigmatisation of infertile women, and the higher the level of stigma, the more difficult it is for infertile women to cope with stress due to infertility.

Associations between Stigma, Cognitive Appraisals, Coping Strategies and Stress Responses among Japanese Women Undergoing Infertility Treatment

“…This scale evaluates an individual’s perceived and self-stigma [ 57 ]. The ISS has been widely used in studies in China and Turkey [ 22 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 31 , 33 , 34 , 55 ]. The scale contains 27 items that can be divided into four subscales: self-devaluation, social withdrawal, public stigma, and family stigma.…”

“…Furthermore, the stigma of infertility is negatively associated with mental health, leading to anxiety, depression, social avoidance, and low quality of life [ 13 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 ]. Stigma is a socially constructed process wherein a group with certain characteristics is labeled with socially unfavorable attributes and, in turn, is slighted by the general public by virtue of attributes or behaviors socially deemed undesirable exhibited by that group [ 37 ].…”

Association between Stigma and Anxiety, Depression, and Psychological Distress among Japanese Women Undergoing Infertility Treatment

“…In addition to these factors, studies have shown that the stigma of infertility has negative impacts on health, including psychological distress such as anxiety and depression, low quality of life, and social isolation [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]. Stigma refers to the socially constructed process by which a group of individuals are labeled with socially undesirable attributes.…”