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

The number of infertility treatment cycles in Japan is the highest worldwide. Studies have shown that stigma is a predictor of stress-related symptoms including anxiety and depression in women undergoing infertility treatment. Stress management to prevent stress-related symptoms may be crucial; however, few studies have examined the model of stigma and stress responses. Based on the stress-coping model, we hypothesized that stigma threatens the identity of such women and that coping failure increases stress responses. We aimed to explore the role of cognitive appraisals and coping strategies as mediators of the association between the stigma of infertility and stress responses. In December 2021, we conducted a cross-sectional study in Japan, in which 254 women undergoing infertility treatment completed a web-based survey. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted to analyze the associations between stigma, cognitive appraisals, coping strategies, and stress responses. The results showed that explanatory power increased with each additional variable in the following order: stigma, cognitive appraisals, and coping. Participants with a high level of stigma evaluated it as threatening, and used self-blame and venting coping strategies, and showed higher stress responses. Conversely, participants who used positive reframing coping strategies exhibited lower stress responses. Based on this, effective strategies to address stigma and stress responses are necessitated.