Relationship between emotional intelligence, quality of life, and infertility stigma in infertile woman: A descriptive-correlational study

Background: Infertility is one of the major crises in couples' lives, affecting both mental and physical health. One of the most significant consequences of infertility is stigma; moreover, emotional intelligence and women's coping style with these consequences can affect the quality of this disorder. Objective: This study aimed to investigate emotional intelligence, infertility stigma, quality of life, and the relationship between these variables in infertile women. Materials and Methods: This descriptive-correlational study was conducted from April ۲۰۲۳ to February ۲۰۲۴ on ۳۴۹ infertile women referred to “Hazrat Maryam Infertility Center in Shahid Beheshti hospital” and “Isfahan Fertility and Infertility Center” in Isfahan, Iran. Sampling was done using a convenience sampling method, and tools included ۴ questionnaires, a demographic and midwifery information form, the quality of life questionnaire, the female-infertility-stigma-questionnaire, and the Schutte-Emotional-Intelligence scale.  Results: The results showed that the women’s mean age was ۳۵.۰۸ ± ۷.۶۰ yr. The mean score for emotional intelligence was ۱۰۹.۰۶ ± ۶.۱۲, and the infertility stigma’s was ۵۶.۱ ± ۱۴.۷۳. The results indicated a positive correlation between emotional intelligence and infertility stigma (r = ۰.۱۳, p < ۰.۰۰۱). Only the mean score of social well-being and general health dimensions had a significant relationship with the total score of emotional intelligence (r = ۰.۰۳۷, p < ۰.۰۲). Conclusion: Infertile women have a lower quality of life and experience higher stigma. Since the quality of life and overall mental health affect the treatment process, also emotional intelligence plays an important role in human life, educational sessions and counseling should be considered in the treatment programs to improve the quality of life, thereby facilitating the treatment process with greater ease and speed.

کلیدواژه ها:

Infertility ، Quality of life ، Emotional intelligence. ، ناباروری ، کیفیت زندگی ، هوش هیجانی.