A Study on the Relationship between Fatigue, Psychosocial Stress, and Behavior that Reduces Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Exposure in Infertile Males

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the relationships between fatigue, psychosocial stress, and behavior of infertile males that reduces endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) exposure and to provide baseline data needed for nursing intervention. Methods: A total of 110 infertile males were recruited from a special fertility hospital in Gwangju city in Korea. The participants were administered a self-reported questionnaire. Results: The mean scores were as follows: for fatigue, 59.1 out of 133; for psychosocial stress, 20.3 out of 54; and for behavior that reduced EDC exposure, 52.6 out of 85. Fatigue and psychosocial stress had a positive correlation(r=0.68, p<0.001), behavior that reduces EDC exposure was negatively correlated with fatigue and psychosocial stress(r=-0.54, p<0.001; r=-0.61, p<0.001) Conclusion: Fatigue and stress were higher in infertile males. Our findings suggest that a nursing intervention program should focus on reducing fatigue and stress in infertile males and induce behaviors that decrease EDC exposure.