Effectiveness of mindful self-compassion therapy on psychopathology symptoms, psychological distress and life expectancy in infertile women treated with in vitro fertilization: a two-arm double-blind parallel randomized controlled trial
Abstract Objectives Infertility is a prominent problem affecting millions of couples worldwide. Recently, there has been a hightened emphasis on elucidating the subtle linkages between infertility treatment leveraging assisted reproductive technology and the complex realm of psychological challenges...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-03-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-05411-6 |
| _version_ | 1797273658198065152 |
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| author | Kimia Sahraian Hamed Abdollahpour Ranjbar Bahia Namavar Jahromi Ho Nam Cheung Joseph Ciarrochi Mojtaba Habibi Asgarabad |
| author_facet | Kimia Sahraian Hamed Abdollahpour Ranjbar Bahia Namavar Jahromi Ho Nam Cheung Joseph Ciarrochi Mojtaba Habibi Asgarabad |
| author_sort | Kimia Sahraian |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objectives Infertility is a prominent problem affecting millions of couples worldwide. Recently, there has been a hightened emphasis on elucidating the subtle linkages between infertility treatment leveraging assisted reproductive technology and the complex realm of psychological challenges, as well as efforts in implementation of psychological interventions.The Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) program seeks to improve self-compassion, compassion for others, mindfulness, and life satisfaction while reducing depression, anxiety, and stress. In the current study, an MSC intervention was performed on infertile women (IW) undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) to assess the effectiveness of this intervention in reducing psychological distress and psychopathological symptoms and enhancing life expectancy. Methods Fifty-seven IW undergoing IVF were randomly allocated to two groups: MSC (n = 29) or treatment as usual (TAU; n = 28). Participants in MSC met once a week for two hours for eight weeks and attended a half-day meditation retreat. The Synder's Hope questionnaire and the Revised 90-Symptom Checklist (SCL-90-R) were used as the primary outcome measures. Data were obtained before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and two months post-intervention. Repeated measures of ANCOVA and paired t-tests in all assessment points were used to compare the MSC and the TAU groups in outcomes. Results In the MSC group, hopelessness, anger-hostility, anxiety, interpersonal sensitivity difficulties, and depression were significantly reduced compared with the TAU group, and those improvements persisted at the two-month follow-up. Reliable change index revealed that the MSC group's gains were both clinically significant and durable. Conclusions MSC can facilitate higher life satisfaction and mental well-being for IW undergoing IVF by reducing psychological distress, psychopathological symptoms, and hopelessness. These encouraging findings call for more research into the effectiveness of mindfulness-based therapies in addressing psychological problems among IW undergoing IVF. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:47:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4282271881314fb69ac25f284e952de2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-244X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:47:28Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-4282271881314fb69ac25f284e952de22024-03-05T19:53:27ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2024-03-0124111710.1186/s12888-023-05411-6Effectiveness of mindful self-compassion therapy on psychopathology symptoms, psychological distress and life expectancy in infertile women treated with in vitro fertilization: a two-arm double-blind parallel randomized controlled trialKimia Sahraian0Hamed Abdollahpour Ranjbar1Bahia Namavar Jahromi2Ho Nam Cheung3Joseph Ciarrochi4Mojtaba Habibi Asgarabad5Department of Psychology, Higher Education Center of EghlidDepartment of Psychology, Koç University College of Social Sciences and HumanitiesInfertility Research Centre, Shiraz University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong KongInstitute for Positive Psychology and Education, Australian Catholic UniversityDepartment of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and TechnologyAbstract Objectives Infertility is a prominent problem affecting millions of couples worldwide. Recently, there has been a hightened emphasis on elucidating the subtle linkages between infertility treatment leveraging assisted reproductive technology and the complex realm of psychological challenges, as well as efforts in implementation of psychological interventions.The Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) program seeks to improve self-compassion, compassion for others, mindfulness, and life satisfaction while reducing depression, anxiety, and stress. In the current study, an MSC intervention was performed on infertile women (IW) undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) to assess the effectiveness of this intervention in reducing psychological distress and psychopathological symptoms and enhancing life expectancy. Methods Fifty-seven IW undergoing IVF were randomly allocated to two groups: MSC (n = 29) or treatment as usual (TAU; n = 28). Participants in MSC met once a week for two hours for eight weeks and attended a half-day meditation retreat. The Synder's Hope questionnaire and the Revised 90-Symptom Checklist (SCL-90-R) were used as the primary outcome measures. Data were obtained before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and two months post-intervention. Repeated measures of ANCOVA and paired t-tests in all assessment points were used to compare the MSC and the TAU groups in outcomes. Results In the MSC group, hopelessness, anger-hostility, anxiety, interpersonal sensitivity difficulties, and depression were significantly reduced compared with the TAU group, and those improvements persisted at the two-month follow-up. Reliable change index revealed that the MSC group's gains were both clinically significant and durable. Conclusions MSC can facilitate higher life satisfaction and mental well-being for IW undergoing IVF by reducing psychological distress, psychopathological symptoms, and hopelessness. These encouraging findings call for more research into the effectiveness of mindfulness-based therapies in addressing psychological problems among IW undergoing IVF.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-05411-6Mindfulness-based interventionSelf-compassionInfertilityPsychological distressIn vitro fertilization |
| spellingShingle | Kimia Sahraian Hamed Abdollahpour Ranjbar Bahia Namavar Jahromi Ho Nam Cheung Joseph Ciarrochi Mojtaba Habibi Asgarabad Effectiveness of mindful self-compassion therapy on psychopathology symptoms, psychological distress and life expectancy in infertile women treated with in vitro fertilization: a two-arm double-blind parallel randomized controlled trial BMC Psychiatry Mindfulness-based intervention Self-compassion Infertility Psychological distress In vitro fertilization |
| title | Effectiveness of mindful self-compassion therapy on psychopathology symptoms, psychological distress and life expectancy in infertile women treated with in vitro fertilization: a two-arm double-blind parallel randomized controlled trial |
| title_full | Effectiveness of mindful self-compassion therapy on psychopathology symptoms, psychological distress and life expectancy in infertile women treated with in vitro fertilization: a two-arm double-blind parallel randomized controlled trial |
| title_fullStr | Effectiveness of mindful self-compassion therapy on psychopathology symptoms, psychological distress and life expectancy in infertile women treated with in vitro fertilization: a two-arm double-blind parallel randomized controlled trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effectiveness of mindful self-compassion therapy on psychopathology symptoms, psychological distress and life expectancy in infertile women treated with in vitro fertilization: a two-arm double-blind parallel randomized controlled trial |
| title_short | Effectiveness of mindful self-compassion therapy on psychopathology symptoms, psychological distress and life expectancy in infertile women treated with in vitro fertilization: a two-arm double-blind parallel randomized controlled trial |
| title_sort | effectiveness of mindful self compassion therapy on psychopathology symptoms psychological distress and life expectancy in infertile women treated with in vitro fertilization a two arm double blind parallel randomized controlled trial |
| topic | Mindfulness-based intervention Self-compassion Infertility Psychological distress In vitro fertilization |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-05411-6 |
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