"Spirituality as a Coping Strategy for Infertility": A Scoping Review.

Abstract

Infertility affects not only the psycho-socio well-being of couples and individuals but also their spiritual well-being, further awakening spiritual desires along with the unmet needs of parenthood. Spirituality has received less attention as compared to the vast knowledge of literature shared on psychosocial issues of infertility. This study examined the role of spirituality as a coping strategy in overcoming stressors associated with infertility. A scoping review was conducted using the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Google Scholar, EBSCOhost, Medline, Pro Quest, and Science Direct. The screening of titles, abstracts, and full text was done using searches such as spirituality, coping strategy, infertility, couple, individual, and women. A systematic review (PRISMA) and qualitative studies (COREQ guidelines) tools were adapted to ensure methodological quality. Finally, retrieved data were extracted: authors, year, country, aim of study, study design and sample characteristics, and major findings. Strong spiritual connection, spiritual support, and forgiveness helped couples and individuals living with infertility cope better despite the enormous psychosocial stressors encountered. The findings of the study revealed that couples and individuals who employed spirituality as a coping strategy had improved quality of life, increased hope, experienced enhanced well-being, reduced emotional stressors, and further increased success rate in treatment.