Abstract: Objective: To describe the characteristics of marital adjustment among infertile couples, and analyze the relationship between sexual pressure and marital adjustment, therefore provide references for developing interventional strategies to improve psychological outcomes in infertile couples. Methods: Between December 2019 and June 2020, following convenient sampling, 312 infertile couples admitted to the reproductive center were selected for a cross-sectional survey using the simplified Chinese version of Locke-Wollance Marital Adjustment Test (LWMAT) and the Sexual Concern Scales (SCS). The relationship of the mutual influence of marital adjustment and sexual concerns of infertile couples was analyzed based on the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model. Results: Scores of sexual concerns in both wives and husbands were significantly related to their own marital adjustment (β=-0.51, -0.43, all P<0.001), with the main effect being significant. In terms of object effect, sexual concerns from wives had a significant effect on men's marital adjustment (β=-0.15, P=0.006), while husband's sexual concerns had no statistical significance on their wives' marital adjustment (P>0.05). Conclusions: Infertile couples experienced low level of marital adjustment. Our results suggests that marital adjustment of infertile couples is significantly influenced by individual and object sexual concerns. Therefore, in order to improve the psychological adjustment outcomes in infertile couples, it is of great importance to evaluate both partners from a systematic approach and focus on the actor-partner effect of these couples.

Key words: marital adjustment; sexual concern; infertile couples; actor-partner interdependence model