The effects of mindfulness therapy on infertile female patients: A meta-analysis.
Yi Wen, Xinyan Li, Wan Shu, Hong Zhang, Zhefan Shen, Zhaoxia Huang
Technology and health care : official journal of the European Society for Engineering and Medicine 2024 DOI: 10.3233/THC-240174 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review and meta-analysis Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1,784 |
| Population | Infertile female patients |
| Intervention | mindfulness-based therapy |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Mindfulness-based therapy Rf dimension Evidence-based nursing Infertility Meta-analysis Women |
| Citations | 9 |
| Key findings | Mindfulness-based interventions significantly reduce anxiety, depression, and perceived stress, and improve quality of life in infertile women. |
Abstract
About 186 million people in the world suffer from infertility, and there is one infertile couple in every 4-6 couples. It is thus essential to find effective psychological treatment. To conduct a systematic review of previous meta-analyses on mindfulness-based therapy outcomes in infertile female patients and a meta-analysis of studies nested within these meta-analyses. Randomized controlled trials (RCTS) on the efficacy of mindset-based interventions in infertile female patients were retrieved from PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, CNI, VIP Database, and Wanfang Database until March 1, 2023. Two researchers screened the literature, extracted data according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, and conducted quality control according to Cochrane Handbook 5.1.0. When there was ambiguity, a third party determined it. The meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software. 14 randomized controlled trials involving 1784 patients were included. Meta-analysis showed that compared with conventional care, mindfulness-based intervention can effectively relieve anxiety in female infertility patients [SMD =-2.25, 95% CI (-2.90, -1.60), P< 0.00001], depression [SMD =-2.25, 95% CI (-2.99, -1.52), P< 0.00001], perceived stress [SMD =-0.99, 95% CI (-1.27, -0.71), P< 0.00001], improved quality of life, physiological function [MD = 14.03, 95% CI (11.98, 16.07), P< 0.00001], Role limitations due to physical problems [MD = 11.30, 95% CI (5.71, 16.90), P< 0.0001], vitality [MD = 11.55, 95% CI (9.46, 13.65), P< 0.00001], mental health [MD = 17.32, 95% CI (15.29, 19.35), P< 0.00001]. Existing evidence shows that mindfulness therapy can effectively relieve the anxiety and depression of infertile women, reduce the level of stress, and improve the quality of life and sleep quality. However, due to the limited quantity and quality of the literature, multi-center, large-sample, and high-quality randomized controlled studies should be conducted in the future.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being Diverse adult clinical populations | 2014 | Meta-analysis | n = 3,515 |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis Healthy subjects | 2009 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | |
| The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Nonclinical groups of adult meditators | 2012 | Meta-analysis | n = 163 |
| Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse Adults with recurrent depression in full or partial remission | 2016 | Meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized controlled trials | n = 1,258 |
| Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials | 2011 | Systematic review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Chain mediation of rumination and anxiety state between mindfulness and depressed mood in infertile women. Scientific Reports April 23, 2025
- Yoga as a complementary intervention for polycystic ovary Syndrome management: a systematic review Frontiers in Reproductive Health June 3, 2026
- A Single-Group Pilot Study of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Indian Women Undergoing IVF Counseling Outcome Research and Evaluation May 31, 2026
Cites 2
- Effect of Mindfulness-Based Group Counseling on Depression in Infertile Women: Randomized Clinical Trial Study. International Journal of Fertility and Sterility February 25, 2020
- An outpatient program in behavioral medicine for chronic pain patients based on the practice of mindfulness meditation: theoretical considerations and preliminary results. General Hospital Psychiatry April 1, 1982