THE EFFECTIVENESS OF GROUP COUNSELING BY COLLABORATIVE APPROACHES ON SPECIFIC STRESS IN INFERTILE WOMEN

Infertility can cause critics al for many infertile people. This study aimed to
investigate the effects of group counseling by collaborative approaches on specific stress in infertile
women
Material & Methods: This study is clinical trial. In this study, 50 infertile women at the age of 20-45
years old with a history of at least one year infertility who referred to Urmia Kosar infertility clinic were
selected in autumn, 2014. They were randomly assigned into two groups, control and intervention (each
group of 25 people). Pre-test was completed by control group, two weeks later; the questionnaire was
completed by the control group again. The experimental group received 10 sessions of group counseling,
including infertility treatment strategy, stress management, problem solving. Controlling the irrational
beliefs of infertility was conducted. Two weeks after the intervention, post test was completed for
intervention group. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS software.
Results: After the intervention, a significant difference was seen between the two groups (P = 0.002).
The specific stress of infertility in both groups were compared in five domains of social concerns, sexual
concerns, relationship concerns, rejection of childfree lifestyle, and need for parenthood. After the
intervention, there was a statistically significant difference.
Conclusion: Group counseling with collaborative approach has important role in reducing the stress of
infertility among infertile women