The role of beliefs about infertility on psychological adjustment: a systematic review

Aims Beliefs about an illness can influence psychological adjustment. This relationship has been studied using the Common Sense Model (CSM). This systematic review explores the association between perceptions of infertility, measured by the Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ), and psychological adjustment among patients with difficulty conceiving. Methods Six electronic databases were searched between 1996 and 2012. Results Three papers were selected. Results indicate significant relationships between perceptions of infertility and psychological adjustment. Perceptions of more severe consequences, longer timeline and lower controllability contributed to greater distress and lower well-being. Individuals’ perceptions influenced partner’s psychological adjustment. Gender differences were also observed. Conclusions The review suggests that the CSM is an appropriate framework to study infertility. Thus, interventions based on modifying perceptions of infertility may improve psychological well-being. Given the limited number of studies available and methodological limitations, further research is needed to ascertain the IPQ’s contribution to research on infertility