Infertilità e procedure di procreazione medicalmente assistita: adattamento di coppia e stile di attaccamento romantico

Titolo Rivista RICERCHE DI PSICOLOGIA
Autori/Curatori Sara Molgora, Arianna De Donno, Valentina Fenaroli, Maria Pia Baldini, Emanuela Saita, Edgardo Somigliana
Anno di pubblicazione 2019 Fascicolo 2018/4
Lingua Italiano Numero pagine 20 P. 639-658 Dimensione file 205 KB
DOI 10.3280/RIP2018-004006
Il DOI è il codice a barre della proprietà intellettuale: per saperne di più clicca qui

Qui sotto puoi vedere in anteprima la prima pagina di questo articolo.

Se questo articolo ti interessa, lo puoi acquistare (e scaricare in formato pdf) seguendo le facili indicazioni per acquistare il download credit. Acquista Download Credits per scaricare questo Articolo in formato PDF

Anteprima articolo

FrancoAngeli è membro della Publishers International Linking Association, Inc (PILA)associazione indipendente e non profit per facilitare (attraverso i servizi tecnologici implementati da CrossRef.org) l’accesso degli studiosi ai contenuti digitali nelle pubblicazioni professionali e scientifiche

L’infertilità costituisce un problema che oggigiorno affligge numerose coppie, configurandosi come un’esperienza stressante, dolorosa e potenzialmente trau-matica. In seguito alla diagnosi di infertilità molte coppie decidono di sottoporsi alle procedure di procreazione medicalmente assistita per avere un figlio. Sia la diagnosi di infertilità, sia il successivo ricorso a tali procedure rappresentano una fonte di stress non solo per ciascun partner, ma anche per la coppia in quanto ta-le. Diversi studi hanno indagato il ruolo di alcune variabili nel modulare tale im-patto stressante e i suoi effetti sul benessere individuale e relazionale. Il presente contributo intende esplorare in un campione di coppie che si sta sottoponendo a tecniche di procreazione medicalmente assistita la rappresentazione che i singoli partner hanno della qualità della relazione di coppia, alla luce di variabili: (1) so-cio-demografiche, ovvero l’età dei partner e la durata della relazione di coppia; (2) mediche, quali la causa dell’infertilità ed un’eventuale storia pregressa di ten-tativi di procreazione non andati a buon fine; (3) intrapsichiche, ovvero lo stile di "attaccamento romantico" di ciascun partner. A 167 coppie, all’inizio di un percorso di procreazione medicalmente assistita, sono stati somministrate i seguenti strumenti: Dyadic Adjustment Scale; Experience in Close Relationship Que-stionnaire; scheda per la raccolta di dati socio-anagrafici e informazioni medi-che. I risultati indicano che né le variabili socio-anagrafiche (età dei partner e du-rata della relazione), né le variabili mediche (diagnosi, numero dei tentativi e tipo-logia di trattamento) sembrano avere alcun effetto sull'adattamento di coppia, sia nel campione delle donne che in quello degli uomini. Di contro, emerge un ef-fetto significativo dell’ansia di abbandono e dell’evitamento sull’adattamento di coppia nelle donne, mentre solo dell’evitamento sull’adattamento di coppia negli uomini. Tali risultati mostrano la presenza di differenze di genere, connesse con le specifiche modalità di vivere ed affrontare l’esperienza dell’infertilità negli uomi-ni e nelle donne. Inoltre, mettono in luce come la coppia sembra in questa fase specifica configurarsi come un contenitore di alcune fatiche che risultano essere più di natura individuale, interrogando clinici ed operatori sociali sul tipo di inter-vento psicologico più adatto in questa delicata fase.;

Keywords:Infertilità, procreazione medicalmente assistita, adattamento di coppia, stile di attaccamento romantico.

  1. Righetti, P.L., e Sette, L. (2000): Non c’è due senza tre. Le emozioni dell’attesa dalla genitorialità alla prenatalità. Torino: Bollati Boringhieri.
  2. Agostini, F., Monti, F., Andrei, F., Paterlini, M., Palomba, S., & La Sala, G.B. (2017). Assisted reproductive technology treatments and quality of life: a longitudinal study among subfertile women and men. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, 34, 1307-1315.
  3. Amiri, M., Sadeqi, Z., Hoseinpoor, M.H., & Khosravi, A. (2016). Marital satisfaction and its influencing factors in fertile and infertile women. Journal of Family and Reproductive Health, 10, 139-145.
  4. Altemus, M., Sarvaiya, N., & Epperson C.N. (2014). Sex differences in anxiety and depression clinical perspectives. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology, 35, 320-330.
  5. Bayley, T.M., Slade, P., & Lashen, H. (2009). Relationships between attachment, appraisal, coping and adjustment in men and women experiencing infertility concerns. Human Reproduction, 24, 2827-2837.
  6. Benyamini, Y., Gozlan, M., & Kokia, E. (2005). Variability in the difficulties experienced by women undergoing infertility treatments. Fertility and Sterility, 83, 275-283.
  7. Bodenmann, G. (2005). Dyadic coping and its significance for marital functioning. In T.A. Revenson, K. Kayser, & G. Bodenmann (Eds.), Couples coping with stress: Emerging perspectives on dyadic coping (pp. 33-49). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
  8. Brennan, K.A., Clark, C.L., & Shaver, P.R. (1998). Self-report measurement of adult romantic attachment: An integrative overview. In J.A., Simpson & W.S. Rholes (Eds.), Attachment theory and close relationships (pp. 46-76). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
  9. Chachamovich, J.R., Chachamovich, E., Ezer, H., Fleck, M.P., Knauth, D., & Passos, E.P. (2010). Investigating quality of life and health-related quality of life in infertility: A systematic review. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics e Gynaecology, 31, 1-10. DOI: 10.3109/0167482X.2010.481337
  10. Davidovà, K., & Pechovà, O. (2014). Infertility and assisted reproduction technologies through a gender lens. Human Affairs, 24, 363-375.
  11. Donarelli, Z., Lo Coco, G., Gullo, S., Marino, A., Volpes, A., & Allegra, A. (2012). Are attachment dimensions associated with infertility-related stress in couples undergoing their first IVF treatment? A study on the individual and cross-partner effect. Human Reproduction, 27, 3215-3225.
  12. Donarelli, Z., Kivlighan, D.M. Jr., Allegra, A., & Lo Coco, G. (2016). How do individual attachment patterns of both members of couples affect their perceived infertility stress? An actor–partner interdependence analysis. Personality and Individual Differences, 92, 63-68.
  13. Edelmann, R.J., & Connolly, K.J. (2000). Gender differences in response to infertility and infertility investigations: Real or illusory. British Journal of Health Psychology, 5, 365-375. DOI: 10.1348/135910700168982
  14. El Kissi, Y., Romdhane, A.B., Hidar, S., Bannour, S., Ayoubi Idrissi, K., Khairi, H. et al. (2013). General psychopathology, anxiety, depression and self-esteem in couples undergoing infertility treatment: a comparative study between men and women. European Journal of Obstetrics e Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 167,185-189.
  15. European IVF-monitoring Consortium (EIM), European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), Calhaz-Jorge, C., De Geyter, C., Kupka, M.S., de Mouzon, J. et al. (2017). Assisted reproductive technology in Europe, 2013: results generated from European registers by ESHRE. Human Reproduction, 32, 1957-1973.
  16. Ferraretti, A.P., Nygren, K., Nyboe Andersen, A., de Mouzon, J., Kupka, M., Calhaz-Jorge, C., et al. (2017). Trends over 15 years in ART in Europe: an analysis of 6 million cycles. Human Reproduction Open, 2, 1-10.
  17. Gameiro, S., Boivin, J., Dancet, E., deKlerk, C., Emery, M., Lewis-Jones, C., et al. (2015). ESHRE guideline: routine psychosocial care in infertility and medically assisted reproduction a guide for fertility staff. Human Reproduction, 30, 2476-2485.
  18. Gana, K., & Jakubowska, S.(2016).  Relationship between infertility-related stress and emotional distress and marital satisfaction. Journal of Health Psychology, 21, 1043-1054. DOI: 10.1177/1359105314544990
  19. Gdańska, P., Drozdowicz-Jastrzębska, E., Grzechocińska, B., Radziwon-Zaleska, M., Węgrzyn, P., & Wielgoś, M. (2017). Anxiety and depression in women undergoing infertility treatment. Ginekologia Polska, 88, 109-112.
  20. Gentili, P., Contreras, L., Cassaniti, M., & D’Arista, F. (2002). La Dyadic Adjustment Scale: una misura dell’adattamento di coppia. Minerva Psichiatrica, 43, 107-116.
  21. Greil, A.L., Slauson-Blevins, K., & McQuillan, J. (2010). The experience of infertility: a review of recent literature. Sociology of Health & Illness, 32, 140-62.
  22. Greil, A.L., Slauson-Blevins, K.S., Shreffler, K.M., Johnson, K.M., Lowry, M.H., Burch, A.R., et al. (2017). Decline in ethical concerns about reproductive technologies among a representative sample of US women. Public Understanding of Science, 26, 789-805. DOI: 10.1177/0963662515625402
  23. Huppelschoten, A.G., vanDonge, A.J., Verhaak, C.M., Smeenk, J.M., Kremer, J.A., & Nelen, W.L. (2013). Differences in quality of life and emotional status between infertile women and their partners. Human Reproduction, 28, 2168-2176.
  24. Istat (2017). Natalità e fecondità della popolazione residente. Statistiche report. Roma: Istituto Nazionale di Statistica.
  25. Koert, E., & Daniluk, J.C. (2018). When time runs out: reconciling permanent childlessness after delayed childbearing. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 35, 342-352. DOI: 10.1080/02646838.2017.1320363
  26. Kroemeke, A., & Kubicka, E. (2018). Positive and negative adjustment in couples undergoing infertility treatment: The impact of support exchange. PLoS ONE, 13, e0200124.
  27. Loghi, M., & Crialesi, R. (2017). La salute riproduttiva della donna. Roma: Istituto Nazionale di Statistica.
  28. Loke, A.Y., Yu, P.L., & Hayter, M. (2012). Experiences of sub-fertility among Chinese couples in Hong Kong: a qualitative study. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 21, 504-512.
  29. Lopes, V., Canavarro, M.C., Verhaak C., Boivin, J., & Gameiro, S. (2014). Are patients at risk for psychological maladjustment during fertility treatment less willing to comply with treatment? Results from the Portuguese validation of the SCREENIVF. Human Reproduction, 29, 293-302.
  30. Lowyck, B., Luyten, P., Corveleyn, J., D’Hooghe, T., Buyse, E., & Demyttenaere, K. (2009). Well-being and relationship satisfaction of couples dealing with an in vitro fertilization/ intracytoplasmic sperm injection procedure: a multilevel approach on the role of self-criticism, dependency, and romantic attachment. Fertility and Sterility, 91, 387-394.
  31. Lykeridou, K., Gourounti, K., Deltsidou, A., Loutradis, D., & Vaslamatzis, G. (2009). The impact of infertility diagnosis on psychological status of women undergoing fertility treatment. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 27, 223-237.  DOI: 10.1080/02646830802350864
  32. Mamata, D., Ray, S.K., Pratap, K., Firuza, P., Birla, A.R., & Manish, B. (2015). Impact of different controlled ovarian stimulation protocols on the physical and psychological burdens in women undergoing in vitro fertilization/intra cytoplasmic sperm injection. Journal of Human Reproductive Science, 8, 86-92. DOI: 10.4103/0974-1208.158615
  33. Maroufizadeh, S., Karimi, E., Vesali, S., & Omani Samani, R. (2015). Anxiety and depression after failure of assisted reproductive treatment among patients experiencing infertility. International Journal of Gynaecology e Obstetrics, 130, 253-256.
  34. Martins, M.V., Peterson, B.D., Almeida, V., Mesquita-Guimara, J., & Costa, M.E. (2014). Dyadic dynamics of perceived social support in couples facing infertility. Human Reproduction, 29, 83-89.
  35. Marzieh, S., Nikvarz, F., & Zangiabadizadeh, M. (2017). The quality of life and some effective factors on infertile couples. Annals of Tropical Medicine and Public Health, 10, 928-938. DOI: 10.4103/ATMPH.ATMPH_255_17
  36. Milazzo, A., Mnatzaganian, G., Elshaug, A.G., Hemphill, S.A., & Hiller, J.E., (2016). Depression and Anxiety Outcomes Associated with Failed Assisted Reproductive Technologies: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. PLoS ONE, 11, e0165805.
  37. Molgora, S., Fenaroli, V., Acquati, C., De Donno, A., Baldini, M.P., Saita, E. (accepted). Examining the Role of Dyadic Coping on the Marital Adjustment of Couples Undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). Frontiers in Psychology.
  38. Monga, M., Alexandrescu, B., Katz, S.E., Stein, M., & Ganiats, T. (2004). Impact of infertility on quality of life, marital adjustment, and sexual function. Urology, 63, 126-130.
  39. Moura-Ramos, M., Gameiro, S., Canavarro, M.C., Soares, I., & Almeida-Santos, T. (2016). Does infertility history affect the emotional adjustment of couples undergoing assisted reproduction? The mediating role of the importance of parenthood. British Journal of Health Psychology, 21, 302-317.
  40. Péloquin, K., Brassard, A., Arpin, V., Sabourin, S., & Wright, J. (2018). Whose fault is it? Blame predicting psychological adjustment and couple satisfaction in couples seeking fertility treatment. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology, 39, 64-72. DOI: 10.1080/0167482X.2017.1289369
  41. Peterson, B.D., Newton, C.R., & Feingold, T. (2007). Anxiety and sexual stress in men and women undergoing infertility treatment. Fertility e Sterility, 88, 911-914.
  42. Peterson, B.D., Pirritano, M., Christensen, U., & Schmidt, L. (2008). The impact of partner coping in couples experiencing infertility. Human Reproduction, 23, 1128-1137.
  43. Peterson, B.D., Sejbaek, C.S., Pirritano, M., & Schmidt, L. (2014). Are severe depressive symptoms associated with infertility-related distress in individuals and their partners? Human Reproduction, 29, 76-82.
  44. Picardi, A., Bitetti, D., Puddu, P., & Pasquini, P. (2000). La scala “Experience in Close Relationships”, un nuovo strumento per la valutazione dell’attaccamento negli adulti: traduzione, adattamento e validazione della versione italiana. Rivista di Psichiatria, 35, 114-120.
  45. Picardi, A., Vermigli, P., Toni, A., D’Amico, R., Bitetti, D., & Pasquini, P. (2002). Il questionario Experience in Close Relationships per la valutazione dell’attaccamento negli adulti: ampliamento delle evidenze di validità per la versione italiana, Italian Journal of Psychopathology, 8, 282-294.
  46. Purcell-Lévesque, C., Brassard, A., Carranza-Mamane, B., & Péloquin, K. (2018). Attachment and sexual functioning in women and men seeking fertility treatment. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 11, 1-9. DOI: 10.1080/0167482X.2018.1471462
  47. Reis, S., Xavier, M.R., Coelho, R., & Montenegro, N. (2013). Psychological impact of single and multiple courses of assisted reproductive treatments in couples: a comparative study. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 171, 61-66.
  48. Rockliff, H.E., Lightman, S.L., Rhidian, E., Buchanan, H., Gordon, U., & Vedhara, K. (2014). A systematic review of psychosocial factors associated with emotional adjustment in in vitro fertilization patients. Human Reproduction Update, 20, 594-613.
  49. Rooney, K.L., & Domar, A.D. (2016).  The impact of stress on fertility treatment. Current Opinion in Obstetrics and Gynecology, 28, 198-201. DOI: 10.1097/GCO.0000000000000261
  50. Samadaee-Gelehkolaee, K., McCarty, B.W., Khalilian, A., Hamzehgardeshi, Z., Peyvandi, S., Elyasi, F., et al. (2016). Factors associated with marital satisfaction in infertile couple: A comprehensive literature review. Global Journal of Health Science, 8, 96-109.
  51. Schmidt, L., Holstein, B., Christensen, U., & Boivin, J. (2005). Does infertility cause marital benefit? An epidemiological study of 2,250 women and men in fertility treatment. Patient Education and Counseling, 59, 244-251.
  52. Schwerdtfeger, K.L., & Shreffler, K.M. (2009). Trauma of pregnancy loss and infertility among mothers and involuntarily childless women in the United States. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 14, 211-227. DOI: 10.1080/15325020802537468
  53. Schaller, M.A., Griesinger, G., & Banz-Jansen, C. (2016). Women show a higher level of anxiety during IVF treatment than men and hold different concerns: a cohort study. Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 293, 1137-1145.
  54. Shapiro, C. (2009). Therapy with infertile heterosexual couples: It’s not about gender – or is it? Clinical Social Work Journal, 37, 140-149.
  55. Sina, M., TerMeulen, R., & Carrasco de Paula, I. (2010). Human infertility: is medical treatment enough? A cross-sectional study of a sample of Italian couples. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics e Gynecology, 31, 158-167. DOI: 10.3109/0167482X.2010.487952
  56. Smith, J.F., Walsh, T.J., Shindel, A.W., Turek, P.J., Wing, H., Pasch, L., et al. (2009). Sexual, Marital, and Social Impact of a Man’s Perceived Infertility Diagnosis. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 6, 2505-2515.
  57. Spanier, G. (1976). Measuring dyadic adjustment: New scales for assessing the quality of marriage and similar dyads. Journal of Marriage and Family, 38, 15-28.
  58. Tao, P., Coates, R., & Maycock, B. (2012). Investigating marital relationship in infertility: A systematic review of quantitative studies. Journal of Reproduction e Infertility, 13, 71-80.
  59. Terracciano, A., Lockenhoff, C.E., Zonderman, A.B., Ferrucci, L., & Costa, P.T. Jr. (2008). Personality predictors of longevity: activity, emotional stability, and conscientiousness. Psychosomatic Medicine, 70, 621-627.
  60. Turner, K., Reynolds-May, M.F., Zitek, E.M., Tisdale, R.L., Carlisle, A.B., & Westphal, L.M. (2013). Stress and anxiety scores in first and repeat IVF cycles: a pilot study. PLoS ONE, 8, e63743.
  61. Van den Broeck, U., D’Hooghe, T., Enzlin, P., & Demyttenaere, K. (2010). Predictors of psychological distress in patients starting IVF treatment: infertility-specific versus general psychological characteristics. Human Reproduction, 25, 1471-80.
  62. Van Der Merwe, E., & Greeff, A. P. (2015). Infertility related-stress within the marital relationship. International Journal of Sexual Health, 27, 522-531. DOI: 10.1080/19317611.2015.1067275
  63. Vitale, S.G., La Rosa, V.L., Rapisarda, A.M.C., & Laganà, A.S. (2017). Psychology of infertility and assisted reproductive treatment. The Italian situation. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology, 38, 1-3.
  64. Ying, L.Y., Wu, L.H., & Loke, A.Y. (2015). Gender differences in experiences with and adjustments to infertility: A literature review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 52, 1640-1652.
  65. World Health Organization (1992). Recent advances in medically assisted conception. Geneva: World Health Organization.
  66. Wong, J.M., Lawson, A., Lanham, M., Fisseha, S., & Moravek, M.B. (2015). A cry for help: the relationship between perceived social support and quality of life in infertility patients. Fertility and Sterility, 104, 360.
  67. Winkelman, W.D., Katz, P.P., Smith, J.F., Rowen, T.S., & Infertility Outcomes Program Project Group. (2016). The sexual impact of infertility among women seeking fertility care. Sexual Medicine, 4, 190-197.
  68. Wang, K., Li, J., Zhang, J.X., Zhang, L., Yu, J., & Jiang, P. (2007). Psychological characteristics and marital quality of infertile women registered for in vitro fertilization-intracytoplasmic sperm injection in China. Fertility and Sterility, 87, 792-798.

  • Individual and Relational Well-Being at the Start of an ART Treatment: A Focus on Partners’ Gender Differences Sara Molgora, Maria Pia Baldini, Giancarlo Tamanza, Edgardo Somigliana, Emanuela Saita, in Frontiers in Psychology 2027/2020
    DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.02027

Sara Molgora, Arianna De Donno, Valentina Fenaroli, Maria Pia Baldini, Emanuela Saita, Edgardo Somigliana, Infertilità e procedure di procreazione medicalmente assistita: adattamento di coppia e stile di attaccamento romantico in "RICERCHE DI PSICOLOGIA " 4/2018, pp 639-658, DOI: 10.3280/RIP2018-004006