Spirituality in Coping with Infertility Stigma: A Mixed Method Study
Keywords:
Infertility, stigma, spirituality, coping strategies, mixed-methods
Abstract
Spirituality and religion are often involved in the coping approaches of women facing the psychosocial challenge of infertility in several African cultures. This convergent mixed-methods study examined spirituality in coping with infertility-related stigma among 384 women attending evangelical churches in Zou County, Benin Republic. Data were collected using standardized instruments, the Assessment of Spirituality and Religious Sentiments (ASPIRES) and the COMPI Coping Strategy Scale (CSS), supplemented by focus groups and interviews with 45 church leaders. Quantitative data analysis was done with SPSS version 25.0, and a matched mixed-method approach was used for the qualitative data analysis. In terms of results, about spirituality, the Spiritual Transcendence scale was dominated by the Prayer Fulfilment subscale, and integration of qualitative findings confirmed a prayer-centred spirituality among surveyed women. For coping strategies, the frequency of use presented as respectively, active-confronting, meaning-based, passive-avoidance, and active-avoidance. In addition, the qualitative data revealed a three-stage coping trajectory: early-stage avoidance and shame; middle-stage indifference and adaptation; and late-stage meaning-based acceptance. Regarding spirituality in coping with infertility stigma, Spiritual Transcendence significantly predicted Coping Strategies, accounting for 20.3% of variance. In line with the massive prevalence of prayer in the women’s management of infertility stigma, the important remaining unexplained variance suggests that spirituality is much more a coping resource than a discrete strategy. The study contributes to understanding culturally situated coping mechanisms and informs interventions for mental health support in religious communities. Implications for clinical practice and church-based counselling are discussed.
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References
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4. Ahmed, S. K. (2024). How to choose a sampling technique and determine sample size for research: A simplified guide for researchers. Oral Oncology Reports, 12, 100662. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oor.2024.100662
5. Akarsu, R. H. & Beji, N. K. (2021). Spiritual and religious issues of stigmatization women with infertility: A qualitative study. Journal of Religion and Health, 60(1), 256-267. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-019-00884-w
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7. Annan-Frey, L., Boateng, E. A., Lomotey, A., Lartey, C. & Dzomeku. (2023). Lived experiences and coping strategies of persons seeking infertility treatment in the Kumasi metropolis: A descriptive phenomenological study. BMC Women’s Health, 23, 74. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905
8. Archetti, C. (2024). Infertility as trauma: Understanding the lived experience of involuntary childlessness. Culture, Medicine, and Psychiatry, 48, 940-960. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11013-024-09871-7
9. Assaysh-Öberg, S., Borneskog, C. & Ternström, E. (2023). Women’s experience of infertility & treatment – A silent grief and failed care and support. Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare, 37, 100879. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.srhc.2023.100879
10. Asiimwe, S., Osingada, C. P., Mbalinda, S. N., Muyingo, M., Ayebare, E., Namutebi, M. & Muwanguzi, P. A. (2022). Women’s experiences of living with involuntary childlessness in Uganda: A qualitative phenomenological study. BMC Women’s Health, 22, 532. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-022-02087-0
11. Bawadi, H., Al-Hamdan, Z. M., Clark, C. J., Hall-Clifford, R., Hamadneh, J. M. & Al-Sharu, E. E. (2024). Infertile Jordanian women’s self-perception about societal violence: An interpretative phenomenological study. International Journal of Women's Health, 16, 593-603. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJWH.S451950
12. Bayefsky, M. J. & Caplan, A. (2024, August 08). Treating infertility as a missing capability, not a disease: A capability approach. Journal of Medical Ethics. https://doi.org/10.1136/jme-2024-109877
13. Bayoumi, R. R., Koert, E., Boivin, J., Viswanath, K. & McConnell, M. (2021). Quality of life of Sudanese patients attending a fertility clinic: A mixed method study. Health Psychology and Behavioural Medicine, 9(1), 1006-1030. https://doi.org/10.1080/21642850.2021.2007773
14. Bornstein, M., Huber-Krum, S., Norris, A. H. & Gipson, J. D. (2023). Infertility and perceived chance of conception among men in Malawi. Human Fertility, 26(3), 504-511. https://doi.org/10.1080/14647273.2023.2190042
15. Braun, V. & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
16. Brigance, C. A. & Brigance, M. L. (2023). A qualitative study of a couple experiencing reproductive trauma: An attachment perspective through a duo ethnography. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 22(2), 105-129. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332691.2022.2142716
17. Buran, G. & Toptaş Acar, B. (2024). The effect of social and emotional capacities on coping strategies and stress in infertile individuals. Current Psychology, 43, 29984-29994 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-024-06504-5
18. Çalışkan, A. & Özkan, F. S. (2021). Marital violence against infertile women and their coping strategies. Journal of Psychiatric Nursing, 12(4), 297-306. https://dx.doi.org/10.14744/phd.2021.46503
19. Canbay, F. C., Çitil, E. T., Şap, T. S. C. & Şap, O. (2022). Identifying experiences and hopelessness levels of women receiving infertility treatment: A mixed method study. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 50(2), 205-226. https://doi.org/10.1080/01926187.2021.1905570
20. Chamberlain, A. M. (2022). The spiritual identity of women coping with infertility in a religion stressing fertility (Publication No. 29999797) [Doctoral dissertation, Fielding Graduate University]. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. https://search.proquest.com/openview/0debd6c8a8c828c33fcd9be3ccdf776f/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y
21. Cox, C. M., Thoma, M. E., Tchangalova, N., Mburu, G., Bornstein, M. J., Johnson, C. L. & Kiarie, J. (2022). Infertility prevalence and the methods of estimation from 1990 to 2021: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Human Reproduction Open. https://doi.org/10.1093/hropen/hoac051
22. Dehghan, M., Khodabakhshi-Koolaee, A., Heidari, H. & Najdi, N. (2024). Improving daily spiritual experiences and hope among infertile women: The impact of spiritually integrated psychotherapy. Journal of Research Development in Nursing and Midwifery, 21(1), 34-37 https://nmj.goums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_id=1562&sid=1&slc_lang=en&ftxt=0
23. Diallo, A. A., Anku, P. J. & Darkoa Oduro, R. A. (2024). Exploring the psycho-social burden of infertility: Perspectives of infertile couples in Cape Coast, Ghana. PLoS One, 19(1), e0297428. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0297428
24. Dierickx, S. (2022). With the kanyaleng and the help of God, you don’t feel ashamed: Women experiencing infertility in Casamance, Senegal. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 24(2), 268-283. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2020.1833366
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Published
2026-05-10
How to Cite
Houndebasso-Ahoga, J. A., Wambugu, A. G., & Makena, V. K. (2026). Spirituality in Coping with Infertility Stigma: A Mixed Method Study. European Scientific Journal, ESJ, 53, 68. Retrieved from https://eujournal.org/index.php/esj/article/view/20988
Section
ESI Preprints
Copyright (c) 2026 Jocelyne A. Houndebasso-Ahoga, Anne Gathoni Wambugu, Veronica Kaari Makena
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
