Abstract:
Many studies have explored the relation between psychological distress and self-esteem. However, the present study aimed at assessing the incidence of psychological distress (depression, anxiety and stress) among women with infertility and explore the relationship that exists between these two variables when duration in marriage in controlled. Finally, the study aimed at finding the predictive power of depression, anxiety and stress on self-esteem. The research was a correlational study and employed 99 infertile women from three different sites in Ghana. The Beck Depression Inventory, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Perceived Stress Scale and the Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale were used to collect data. The results indicated that there was a positive relationship between depression and anxiety, a negative relationship between depression and self-esteem and a significant negative relationship between psychological distress and self-esteem when duration of marriage is controlled. Furthermore, the results suggested that anxiety was a significant predictor of depression, it was also found that depression but not anxiety nor stress was a significant predictor of self-esteem. The study therefore recommended the need to treat infertility as a condition that requires psychological input in its treatment. Gynaecologists attending to women with infertility should refer these women to clinical health psychologists for professional assistance. Lastly, it was recommended that religious leaders, family and stakeholders in society need to be educated that infertility is not a condition of choice in order to reduce the stigma and consequently psychological distress associated with the condition.
