Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) on the Psychological Well-Being of Infertile Women

A quasi-experimental study with 30 infertile women aged 22 to 45 found that eight weekly 90-minute group sessions of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) improved psychological well-being compared to a no-treatment control group, and the improvement persisted at a two-month follow-up. The Ryff Scales of Psychological Well-Being showed a statistically significant effect. The authors conclude MBCT is a valuable therapeutic approach for psychological challenges associated with infertility.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) on the psychological well-being of infertile women. Methods and Materials: This study employed a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test and post-test control group. The experimental group received MBCT, while the control group received no treatment. A follow-up test was conducted two months later. The control group, which was on a waiting list, received MBCT after the completion of the follow-up test. The statistical population included all infertile women aged 22 to 45 years who visited two private infertility centers in Sari in the first six months of 2023 and had a medical file. Thirty patients who were willing to cooperate were selected through non-random purposive sampling. They were then randomly assigned to the experimental group (MBCT) and the control group. Data were collected using the 84-item Ryff Scales of Psychological Well-Being (RSPWB) (Ryff, 1980). The experimental group underwent eight 90-minute weekly group MBCT sessions. Data analysis was conducted using statistical tests with SPSS software, version 22. Findings: The results indicated that MBCT was effective in improving the psychological well-being of infertile women (P = 0.001). The results also showed that the effect of the therapy was lasting during the follow-up period. Conclusion: The study concluded that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) significantly enhances psychological well-being in infertile women. The intervention not only improved overall well-being but also showed lasting effects during the follow-up period. These findings support the implementation of MBCT as a valuable therapeutic approach for addressing the psychological challenges associated with infertility.