Conectar
by Stephen Mensah Arhin, Kwesi Boadu Mensah, Isaac Tabiri Henneh, Felix Yirdong, Evans Kofi Agbeno, Charles Ansah, Martins Ekor
BackgroundPsychological distress and social burdens associated with infertility among couples have been well-documented. However, little is known about the specific coping strategies employed by couples in low-middle-income countries such as Ghana, in the aftermath of unsuccessful infertility treatment attempts. In this qualitative study, we explored specific coping strategies patients adopt to address psychological distress related to unsuccessful treatment for infertility.
MethodsA semi-structured interview approach was used to elicit qualitative responses from 18 fertility clients after unsuccessful treatment at four fertility clinics in Ghana. Thematic analysis (TA) was used to examine the coping strategies adopted by participants in response to psychological distress associated with infertility treatment failures. This allowed us to explore potential culturally specific coping strategies employed by participants in response to infertility-related psychological distress.
ResultsThe themes that emerged as coping strategies in response to infertility-related psychological distress were diversional activities, intrapersonal cognitive reframing, social isolation, familial support, religious coping, avoidance-focused coping strategies, seeking encouragement, and professional help.
ConclusionThe findings from this study indicate that coping strategies that involve isolating oneself may not provide lasting emotional relief for individuals experiencing infertility. Relational activities contribute positively to coping. This is relevant in helping health professionals in the management of infertility treatment failures, which may include setting up support groups of similar experiences to draw strength from each. Furthermore, the results underscore the need to integrate psychological interventions into the counseling of couples following an unsuccessful infertility treatment. The clinical and research implications of these findings are discussed.
by Siting Chen, Corey L. Nagel, Ruotong Liu, Anda Botoseneanu, Heather G. Allore, Jason T. Newsom, Stephen Thielke, Jeffrey Kaye, Ana R. Quiñones
IntroductionMultimorbidity may confer higher risk for cognitive decline than any single constituent disease. This study aims to identify distinct trajectories of cognitive impairment probability among middle-aged and older adults, and to assess the effect of changes in mental-somatic multimorbidity on these distinct trajectories.
MethodsData from the Health and Retirement Study (1998–2016) were employed to estimate group-based trajectory models identifying distinct trajectories of cognitive impairment probability. Four time-varying mental-somatic multimorbidity combinations (somatic, stroke, depressive, stroke and depressive) were examined for their association with observed trajectories of cognitive impairment probability with age. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to quantify the association of sociodemographic and health-related factors with trajectory group membership.
ResultsRespondents (N = 20,070) had a mean age of 61.0 years (SD = 8.7) at baseline. Three distinct cognitive trajectories were identified using group-based trajectory modelling: (1) Low risk with late-life increase (62.6%), (2) Low initial risk with rapid increase (25.7%), and (3) High risk (11.7%). For adults following along Low risk with late-life increase, the odds of cognitive impairment for stroke and depressive multimorbidity (OR:3.92, 95%CI:2.91,5.28) were nearly two times higher than either stroke multimorbidity (OR:2.06, 95%CI:1.75,2.43) or depressive multimorbidity (OR:2.03, 95%CI:1.71,2.41). The odds of cognitive impairment for stroke and depressive multimorbidity in Low initial risk with rapid increase or High risk (OR:4.31, 95%CI:3.50,5.31; OR:3.43, 95%CI:2.07,5.66, respectively) were moderately higher than stroke multimorbidity (OR:2.71, 95%CI:2.35, 3.13; OR: 3.23, 95%CI:2.16, 4.81, respectively). In the multinomial logistic regression model, non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic respondents had higher odds of being in Low initial risk with rapid increase and High risk relative to non-Hispanic White adults.
ConclusionsThese findings show that depressive and stroke multimorbidity combinations have the greatest association with rapid cognitive declines and their prevention may postpone these declines, especially in socially disadvantaged and minoritized groups.
FreshRSS