Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Research suggests that affective temperaments influence adherence to pharmacotherapy; however, this has not been investigated in infertility treatment. Our prospective longitudinal study assessed the impact of affective temperaments on medication adherence during infertility treatments. METHODS: 179 women presenting at an Assisted Reproduction Centre completed the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego (TEMPS-A) questionnaire before treatment, and the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS) six months later. Univariate linear regression assessed whether affective temperaments predict medication adherence; multivariate and interaction models examined the influence of sociodemographic and medical variables on this relationship, and potential moderating effects of age and education. RESULTS: Higher cyclothymic, depressive, irritable, and anxious affective temperament scores predicted significantly poorer adherence to pharmacotherapeutic recommendations (β = -0.122, p < 0.001, β = -0.178, p < 0.001, β = -0.114, p = 0.002, β = -0.071, p = 0.08; respectively). These results remained significant in multivariate models including sociodemographic and medical factors, which did not influence adherence. Increasing age intensified the negative impact of anxious temperament on medication adherence (β = -0.015, p = 0.024). CONCLUSIONS: Affective temperaments impact adherence to pharmacotherapeutic recommendations among women experiencing infertility, possibly influencing treatment outcomes. Screening for affective temperaments can identify patients at risk of medication non-adherence. Applying patient-tailored psychological interventions to aid adherence could increase the chances of successful pregnancies.