The relationship between cognitive characteristics of irrational parenthood and stigma in female patients with infertility: a potential profile analysis

Abstract

Objective: To explore the relationship between the potential profile of irrational parenthood cognition and stigma in female infertility patients. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 296 infertile women using a general information questionnaire, irrational parenthood cognition questionnaire, and infertility stigma scale. A latent profile analysis was used to determine the characteristics of irrational parenthood cognition of infertile female patients, the robust three-step method was used to analyze the influencing factors of different profiles, and multiple linear regression was used to analyze the influence of the potential profile of irrational parenthood cognition on stigma. Results: Four potential profiles were identified and labeled as high irrational parenthood cognition group (19.30%), middle irrational parenthood cognition – expectation group (20.60%), middle irrational parenthood cognition – low self-esteem group (25.70%), and low irrational parenthood cognition group (34.50%). The influencing factors of the potential profile of irrational parenthood cognition in female infertility patients included ethnicity, marital status, and receiving assisted reproductive technology (P < 0.05). After controlling for confounding factors, the potential profile of irrational parenthood cognition was an important predictor of stigma (P < 0.05), which could explain 44.2% of the total variation. Conclusion: There are four potential characteristics of irrational parenthood cognition in female infertility patients, which are related to stigma.