Effect of mindfulness-based cognitive infertility stress therapy on psychological well-being of women with infertility

Objective

Infertility is a critical major life problem that has deleterious effects on the psychological well-being of infertile women. Infertile women experience greater stress in their life compared to fertile women and have a lower quality of life. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive infertility stress therapy (MBCIST) for the promotion of the psychological well-being of women with infertility.

Methods

In a clinical trial, 60 infertile women who were referred to the Fatemeh Zahra Infertility Research Center of the city of Babol were randomly assigned to four groups (15 persons in an experimental group with a pre-test, 15 persons in an experimental group without a pre-test, 15 persons in a control group with a pre-test, and 15 persons in a control group without a pre-test). The 30 participants of the experimental groups received MBCIST in eight group sessions (120?min each week). The control group received no intervention. Thirty participants completed Ryff’s Well-Being Questionnaire at the beginning of the study and all 60 participants completed the questionnaire at the end of the study.

Results

The results showed that MBCIST improves the psychological well-being of infertile women, including their self-acceptance, positive relations with others, autonomy, environmental mastery, purpose in life, and personal growth. There was no significant difference in psychological well-being or all six of the subscales from pre-treatment to post-treatment in the two control groups.

Conclusions

The findings demonstrate that MBCIST is an efficient method for improving the psychological well-being of women referred to infertility clinics.