ArticleFrontiers in psychology2019
Supportive Social Interactions in Infertility Treatment Decrease Cortisol Levels: Experimental Study Report.
Article in Frontiers in psychology, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed.
- "There is something that i can control": food, fertility, and the journey to pregnancy.Journal of health, population, and nutrition · 2026Article
- Advances in fertility preservation and pregnancy care for transplant patients.World journal of transplantation · 2025Review
- What women want to hear: the helpful and unhelpful comments reported by women struggling with infertility amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.PloS one · 2025Article
- Relationships between couple collaboration, well-being, and psychological health of infertile couples undergoing assisted reproductive treatment.Reproductive health · 2024Article
- The Stigma and Infertility-Related Stress of Chinese Infertile Women: A Cross-Sectional Study.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- The social infertility cycle model.Health psychology report · 2024Review
- Current global status of male reproductive health.Human reproduction open · 2024Review
- Evaluation the relationship between social health and stress of assisted reproductive techniques in infertile women.Journal of education and health promotion · 2022Article
- Contact, moral foundations or knowledge? What predicts attitudes towards women who undergo IVF.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2021Article
- Comparison of Early-Stage Mothers and Childless Women Seeking Pregnancy: Experienced Stress, Resilience and Satisfaction with Relationship with the Partner.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Article
- Satisfaction with Life, Emotions, and Identity Processes in Polish First-Time Mothers and Fathers and Their Child's Age.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Article
- Experiences of Women with Male Factor Infertility under In Vitro Fertilization.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeThe aim of the research project was to analyze the importance of supportive social interactions in the process of infertility treatment. The acceptance rates of ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology) in Poland are lower than in western European countries and the social stigma of infertility exists. The research project draws attention to the issue of disclosure of fertility problems and the ability to seek support in Polish couples.
methodsAn experimental study was conducted with 51 heterosexual couples who qualified for IVF. The participants were randomly divided into an experimental and control group. The first stage of the research procedure, with all the couples, was to extract a saliva (cortisol) sample as a biomarker for stress. In the second stage the control group viewed an informational (non-emotional) video about human embryology. The experimental group took part in a supportive social interaction process. In the supportive social interaction process, a maximum of five couples, were led through a broad general understanding of their IVF experience by an experienced group psychologist. The third stage of the research involved the second extraction of a saliva (cortisol) sample form all participants. In addition, demographic and medical history related to fertility was collected.
resultsThe statistical analysis indicates a significant decrease in the level of stress experienced after the supportive social interaction. The reported differences between the experimental group and the control group indicated a larger decrease of cortisol level for women and men.
conclusionIn the current study, the hypothesis that taking part in supportive social interaction significantly lowers stress levels (measured via cortisol) of infertile couples (men and women) was supported. Further the project indicates that a supportive social interaction has a beneficial effect on infertile couple's health and well-being. The results of the study clearly point to the benefits of couples involved in infertility treatment to express and share their experience, and in doing so, provides measurable physiological and psychological benefits.
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