The Effect of Couples Coping Enhancement Counseling on Stress and Dyadic Coping on Infertile Couples: A Parallel Randomized Controlled Trial Study

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of couples coping enhancement counseling (CCEC) on stress and dyadic coping of infertile couples. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this parallel randomized controlled trial study in 2020, seventy infertile couples were randomly divided into case and control groups. The intervention was performed in 7 sessions of couple counseling based on CCEC for the intervention group, no intervention was performed in the control group. Fertility Problem Inventory, Dyadic Coping Inventory and demographics questionnaires were completed by both couples separately before the intervention and 4 weeks after the last consultation session. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS statistics 24 and statistical tests such as mean ± SD, frequency, percentage, Independent t test, Mann-Whitney test, Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test and Analysis of covariance. Significant level was considered less than 0.05. RESULTS: The mean stress scores of women in the intervention group before and after intervention decreased from (156.83 ± 23.57) to (139.43 ± 22.39) and the mean scores of dyadic coping increased from (126.83 ± 19.89) to (138.26 ± 16.92), these differences were statistically significant (P<0.001), also the mean stress scores of men in the intervention group before and after the intervention decreased from (143.80 ± 23.40) to (128.03 ± 22.24), the mean scores of dyadic coping increased (131.34 ± 20.67) to (136.40 ± 19.38), these differences were statistically significant (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Positive effects of CCEC were observed in reducing infertility stress and increasing dyadic coping in both women and men after the intervention, the effect of the intervention on women was greater than that of men. As a result, this intervention can play an important role in reducing stress and increasing the solidarity and support of infertile couples for infertility treatments (registration number: IRCT20120215009014N367).