The Infertility Self-Efficacy Scale (ISE) is a 16-item measure to capture perceived self-efficacy for coping with a diagnosis and treatment for infertility. It assesses a patient’s confidence levels on aspects of cognitive, emotional and behavioral skills related to infertility and its medical treatment. The ISE Scale demonstrated a single component structure and may help inform psychological outcomes of clinical interventions for individuals and couples navigating the medical experience of infertility.
High Psychometric Score
I feel confident I can...
1. Ignore or push away unpleasant thoughts that can upset me during medical procedures
2. Keep a sense of humor
3. Make meaning out of my infertility experience
4. Handle mood swings caused by hormonal treatments
5. Keep from getting discouraged when nothing I do seems to make a difference
6. Accept that my best efforts may not change my/our infertility
7. Control negative feelings about infertility
8. Cope with pregnant friends and family members
9. Handle personal feelings of anger or hostility
10. Keep a positive attitude
11. Lessen feelings of self-blame, shame, or defectiveness
12. Stay relaxed while waiting for appointments or test results
13. Do something to make myself feel better if I am sad or discouraged
14. Feel good about my body and myself
15. Keep active with my usual life routine
16. Feel like a sexual individual
Response Options:
9-point Likert scale from "not at all confident" to "very confident"
GEOGRAPHIES TESTED:
POPULATIONS INCLUDED:
Female
Male
AGE RANGE:
Adults
Not Available
PRIMARY CITATION:
Cousineau, T. M., Green, T. C., Corsini, E. A., Barnard, T., Seibring, A. R., & Domar, A. D. (2006). Development and validation of the Infertility Self-Efficacy scale. Fertility and Sterility, 85(6), 1684-1696. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2005.10.077
Qualitative Research
Existing Literature/Theoretical Framework
Field Expert Input
Cognitive Interviews / Pilot Testing
Internal
Test-Retest
Interrater
Content
Face
Criterion (gold-standard)
Construct
Total Score: 7.00/8 Points (HIGH)
For more details, see Scoring Methodology