Heterogeneity in Dyadic Coping Among Infertile Couples and Its Association with Depression and Fertility Quality of Life: A Latent Profile Analysis.

Objective

This study aimed to identify distinct dyadic coping profiles among infertile couples undergoing assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) and to examine the associations between these coping profiles, depressive symptoms, and fertility quality of life (FertiQOL).

Methods

A total of 271 infertile couples undergoing ARTs were recruited from a reproductive medicine center in Zhengzhou, China, and completed standardized self-report measures. Latent profile analysis was conducted to identify distinct dyadic coping profiles at the couple level. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine sociodemographic and infertility-related predictors of profile membership. Differences in depressive symptoms and FertiQoL across profiles were analyzed using the Bolck-Croon-Hagenaars method.

Results

Four dyadic coping profiles were identified: high-coping wife and low-coping husband (15.4%), low dyadic coping (20.1%), medium dyadic coping (31.5%), and high dyadic coping (33.0%). Couples in the high dyadic coping profile reported the lowest levels of depression and the highest level of FertiQoL. Women in the low dyadic coping profile reported the highest depressive symptoms, while men in the high-coping wife and low-coping husband profile demonstrated the highest depression among male partners. Sociodemographic factors (household registration, family income) and infertility characteristics (type of infertility, infertility duration) were significant predictors of profile membership.

Conclusions

Dyadic coping among infertile couples undergoing ARTs is heterogeneous and differentially associated with depression and FertiQoL. Low and asymmetric dyadic coping represent high-risk profiles linked to poorer outcomes in both partners. These findings suggest that dyadic coping may serve as a protective resource for infertile couples to improve their psychological well-being and quality of life, highlighting the importance of incorporating dyadic coping assessment into routine care and providing couple-centered psychosocial interventions in fertility care practice.