The examination of the relationship between stigma and self-efficacy in women undergoing infertility treatment

This research aimed to explore the connection between stigma and self-efficacy in women undergoing infertility treatment. The research was designed as a descriptive and correlational study. The study’s sample included 264 infertile women undergoing treatment for infertility. Data collection was conducted using the ‘personal information form’, the ‘infertility self-efficacy scale,’ and the ‘infertility stigma scale’. Based on the findings, women’s mean score on the Infertility Stigma Scale was 55.0±24.4. The highest mean sub-dimension score was obtained from the public stigma, one of the sub-dimensions of the infertility stigma scale (18.9±4.8). A notable negative correlation was found between the scores of the infertility stigma scale and the infertility self-efficacy scale (r=-0.28, p<0.01). The results of the study indicated that increased levels of stigma led to a decline in women’s self-efficacy. It is recommended that nurses increase their awareness of stigma and provide necessary interventions to increase women's self-efficacy in order to help women with infertility problems adapt to the treatment process.