Analysis of couple communication patterns as a mediator of fertility-related stress and psychological capital in women with severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome after embryo transfer

Abstract Severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) following embryo transfer (ET) can significantly impact psychological well-being and fertility-related stress in women. To examine the associations among couple communication patterns, psychological capital, and fertility-related stress and to...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ma Lan, Na Zhou, Bingqing Chen, Huiling Yu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10945-8
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849333289230270464
author Ma Lan
Na Zhou
Bingqing Chen
Huiling Yu
author_facet Ma Lan
Na Zhou
Bingqing Chen
Huiling Yu
author_sort Ma Lan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) following embryo transfer (ET) can significantly impact psychological well-being and fertility-related stress in women. To examine the associations among couple communication patterns, psychological capital, and fertility-related stress and to explore the mediating effect of communication patterns on the relationship between psychological capital and fertility-related stress in women with severe OHSS after ET in China. This research used a cross-sectional study design. This cross-sectional study included 175 women diagnosed with severe OHSS following ET, recruited from the reproductive ward of a tertiary hospital in China using convenience sampling. Participants completed validated self-administered questionnaires assessing psychological capital, fertility-related stress, and couple communication patterns. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted to examine the mediating role of couple communication patterns in the relationship between psychological capital and fertility-related stress. The study was reported by the STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) guidelines. A combination of low levels of psychological capital and requested avoidance/complete avoidance communication patterns were associated with high levels of fertility-related stress among participants. Psychological capital was negatively correlated with fertility-related stress. The requested/completed communication had a significant positive effect on the stress, but constructive communication had no relationship with the stress. In addition, the requested avoidance communication pattern had a negative mediating effect between psychological capital and fertility-related stress in patients with severe OHSS (95% CI − 0.207, − 0.005). Couple communication patterns and psychological capital levels are significant predictors of fertility-related stress in women with severe OHSS after ET. Interventions aimed at enhancing psychological capital and addressing maladaptive communication styles may help reduce fertility-related stress. Healthcare professionals should focus on the psychological status of women with severe OHSS post-ET, facilitate effective couple communication, and raise awareness about the role of communication in mitigating emotional distress.
format Article
id doaj-art-48dc9c1b2acc49489f9b10b67a711ef5
institution Kabale University
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-48dc9c1b2acc49489f9b10b67a711ef52025-08-20T03:45:55ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111010.1038/s41598-025-10945-8Analysis of couple communication patterns as a mediator of fertility-related stress and psychological capital in women with severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome after embryo transferMa Lan0Na Zhou1Bingqing Chen2Huiling Yu3Nursing Department, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityNursing Department, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityNursing Department, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityNursing Department, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityAbstract Severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) following embryo transfer (ET) can significantly impact psychological well-being and fertility-related stress in women. To examine the associations among couple communication patterns, psychological capital, and fertility-related stress and to explore the mediating effect of communication patterns on the relationship between psychological capital and fertility-related stress in women with severe OHSS after ET in China. This research used a cross-sectional study design. This cross-sectional study included 175 women diagnosed with severe OHSS following ET, recruited from the reproductive ward of a tertiary hospital in China using convenience sampling. Participants completed validated self-administered questionnaires assessing psychological capital, fertility-related stress, and couple communication patterns. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted to examine the mediating role of couple communication patterns in the relationship between psychological capital and fertility-related stress. The study was reported by the STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) guidelines. A combination of low levels of psychological capital and requested avoidance/complete avoidance communication patterns were associated with high levels of fertility-related stress among participants. Psychological capital was negatively correlated with fertility-related stress. The requested/completed communication had a significant positive effect on the stress, but constructive communication had no relationship with the stress. In addition, the requested avoidance communication pattern had a negative mediating effect between psychological capital and fertility-related stress in patients with severe OHSS (95% CI − 0.207, − 0.005). Couple communication patterns and psychological capital levels are significant predictors of fertility-related stress in women with severe OHSS after ET. Interventions aimed at enhancing psychological capital and addressing maladaptive communication styles may help reduce fertility-related stress. Healthcare professionals should focus on the psychological status of women with severe OHSS post-ET, facilitate effective couple communication, and raise awareness about the role of communication in mitigating emotional distress.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10945-8Severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndromeCouple communication patternsPsychological capitalFertility-related stress
spellingShingle Ma Lan
Na Zhou
Bingqing Chen
Huiling Yu
Analysis of couple communication patterns as a mediator of fertility-related stress and psychological capital in women with severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome after embryo transfer
Scientific Reports
Severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome
Couple communication patterns
Psychological capital
Fertility-related stress
title Analysis of couple communication patterns as a mediator of fertility-related stress and psychological capital in women with severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome after embryo transfer
title_full Analysis of couple communication patterns as a mediator of fertility-related stress and psychological capital in women with severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome after embryo transfer
title_fullStr Analysis of couple communication patterns as a mediator of fertility-related stress and psychological capital in women with severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome after embryo transfer
title_full_unstemmed Analysis of couple communication patterns as a mediator of fertility-related stress and psychological capital in women with severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome after embryo transfer
title_short Analysis of couple communication patterns as a mediator of fertility-related stress and psychological capital in women with severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome after embryo transfer
title_sort analysis of couple communication patterns as a mediator of fertility related stress and psychological capital in women with severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome after embryo transfer
topic Severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome
Couple communication patterns
Psychological capital
Fertility-related stress
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10945-8
work_keys_str_mv AT malan analysisofcouplecommunicationpatternsasamediatoroffertilityrelatedstressandpsychologicalcapitalinwomenwithsevereovarianhyperstimulationsyndromeafterembryotransfer
AT nazhou analysisofcouplecommunicationpatternsasamediatoroffertilityrelatedstressandpsychologicalcapitalinwomenwithsevereovarianhyperstimulationsyndromeafterembryotransfer
AT bingqingchen analysisofcouplecommunicationpatternsasamediatoroffertilityrelatedstressandpsychologicalcapitalinwomenwithsevereovarianhyperstimulationsyndromeafterembryotransfer
AT huilingyu analysisofcouplecommunicationpatternsasamediatoroffertilityrelatedstressandpsychologicalcapitalinwomenwithsevereovarianhyperstimulationsyndromeafterembryotransfer