A validation study on the negative association between an active coping style and sperm concentration

In the present study hypotheses derived from a psychobiological model of ma le fertility were tested. The basic assumption of the model proposes that, mediated by specified endocrine mechanisms, an active coping style and sper m concentration are negatively correlated. Data from 55 infertile patients without organic causes for impaired spermatogenesis were included to test t his assumption. Patients completed questionnaires to assess coping efforts in relation to infertility and distress due to infertility. For each patien t a mean value for sperm concentration based on several semen analyses was computed. As hypothesized, there was a significant negative correlation bet ween sperm concentration and an active coping style, but no significant cor relation between sperm concentration and a passive coping style. These asso ciations were significantly different. Previous research suggests that the confirmed association cannot be supposed to be simply a reaction to former semen analyses. The results indicate that further validation of the psychob iological model under study could lead to a better understanding of male in fertility.