Appraisal, coping, and emotional health of infertile couples undergoing donor artificial insemination.

OBJECTIVES

To describe differences between wives and husbands undergoing donor artificial insemination (AID), in terms of stress level, factors contributing to the stress of AID, cognitive appraisal of AID, ways of coping, and emotional health.

DESIGN

Descriptive correlational.

SETTING

A gynecology-endocrinology clinic at a university hospital and a private infertility practice in the midwestern United States.

PARTICIPANTS

Forty wives and thirty-five husbands participating in AID.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Perceived level of stress, factors contributing to the stress of AID, appraisal of AID, revised ways of coping, and profile of mood states.

RESULTS

Wives had greater stress levels, used more ways of coping, and more often appraised AID as a harm-loss, threat, or challenge. Husbands more often appraised AID as a beneficial experience. Individuals who appraised AID differently differed in emotional health and levels of stress.

CONCLUSIONS

Investigations into the relationships among stress levels, stressors, appraisal, coping, situational factors, and emotional health will help nurses understand how these factors affect the health of couples undergoing AID.