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Potential Profile Analysis and Influencing Factors of Reproductive Quality of Life for Patients Treated with Assisted Reproductive Technology

Abstract

Objective: To identify latent profiles of fertility quality of life (FertiQoL) in patients undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) and examine factors associated with different profiles, so as to inform individualized clinical interventions.

Methods: A convenience sample of 323 infertile patients receiving ART at the reproductive medicine department of a tertiary hospital in Jining, Shandong Province, was surveyed from December 2023 to November 2024. Data were collected using a general information questionnaire, the FertiQoL Scale, the Fertility Problem Inventory (FPI), and the Positive Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PPQ). Latent profile analysis was conducted in Mplus 8.3 with the six FertiQoL dimensions as manifest variables, and multivariate logistic regression was used to identify profile-related factors.

Results: The mean FertiQoL score was 71.71 ± 12.52. Three latent profiles were identified: physical and psychological distress group (n=43, 13.3%), moderate FertiQoL group (n=145, 44.9%), and high FertiQoL group (n=135, 41.8%). Social and sexual concerns, along with poor sleep quality, were risk factors for lower FertiQoL, whereas resilience and optimism were protective factors (all P<0.05). Compared with the high FertiQoL group, patients without biological children (OR=4.790) were more likely to be in the physical and psychological distress group, and urban residents (OR=2.398) were more likely to be in the moderate FertiQoL group (all P<0.05).

Conclusion: FertiQoL in ART patients was moderate overall and showed clear heterogeneity. Higher fertility-related stress, lower psychological capital, and poor sleep were associated with worse profiles. Clinical interventions should target high-risk groups and focus on stress management, psychological capital enhancement, and sleep improvement to improve FertiQoL.

Keywords

Assisted reproductive technology, Quality of life during reproduction, Potential profile analysis, Reproductive stress, Psychological capital, Sleep disorders

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References

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