ArticlePloS one2026
Self-esteem in crisis: Psychosocial adaptation and masculine identity among Chinese men with azoospermia.
Article in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAzoospermia affects 1% of men and 10-20% of infertile males, yet the psychosocial mechanisms underlying self-esteem impairment remain poorly characterized. Guided by Connell's Masculinity Theory and Bury's Biographical Disruption Framework, this mixed methods study examined self-esteem experiences among Chinese men with azoospermia.
methodsAn explanatory sequential design was employed. Phase 1 surveyed 216 men using Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale, with multiple regression identifying predictors. Phase 2 involved semi-structured interviews with 16 purposively sampled participants, analyzed through thematic analysis. Integration of quantitative and qualitative findings provided comprehensive interpretation.
resultsQuantitative analysis revealed moderate self-esteem overall (mean = 30.18 ± 3.99), with 10.19% exhibiting low self-esteem. Significant predictors included monthly income (β = 0.210, p < 0.001), family harmony (β = 0.141, p = 0.028), and attitudes toward childbearing discussions (β = 0.159, p = 0.014). Qualitative findings identified five themes, including economic burden, family dynamics, social stigma, treatment uncertainty, and cumulative psychological impacts. Integration demonstrated financial capacity's dual role as both practical enabler and symbolic compensation for perceived masculine failure.
conclusionsSelf-esteem in azoospermic men is shaped by interconnected economic, familial, and social factors. Clinical interventions should integrate financial counseling, family-based emotional support, and culturally tailored stigma reduction, highlighting the value of mixed methods in understanding male infertility psychosocial dimensions.
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