Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Infertility-Related Stigma and Sexual Self-Esteem in Infertile Women

Aims: Infertility can cause social stigma and erode sexual self-esteem in women, highlighting the need to explore interventions like mindfulness-based cognitive therapy to address these challenges. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on infertility-related stigma and sexual self-esteem in infertile women. Materials & Methods: This was a three-stage (pre-test, post-test, and follow-up) two-group (experimental and control) quasi-experimental study. To conduct the study, all infertile women referred to infertility treatment centers in Isfahan City in early ۲۰۲۳ were recruited using a convenience sampling method based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. A total of ۴۰ participants were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n=۲۰) or the control group (n=۲۰). The sample group completed the Infertility-Related Stigma Questionnaire and the Sexual Self-Esteem Scale in three stages: Pre-test, post-test, and follow-up. The experimental group received an ۸-session MBCT (one ۹۰-minute session per week). Repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyze the results. Findings: Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy significantly improved infertility-related stigma in the social withdrawal, family stigma, and public stigma dimensions (p<۰.۰۱). However, the intervention was not significantly effective in enhancing sexual self-esteem in infertile women. Conclusion: Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy significantly reduces infertility-related stigma, specifically in the social withdrawal dimension.

کلیدواژه ها:

Mindfulness ، Cognitive Therapy ، Social Stigma ، Self-Esteem ، Infertility ، Women