Relationship between Quality of Life, Relationship Beliefs and Attribution Style in Infertile Couples

Correlations among hope, fertility quality of life and negative emotions for couples undergoing their first in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer: a cross-sectional analysis

BACKGROUND

The global incidence of infertility is increasing, and infertility has become an important medical and social issue. With the widespread application of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) technology, the mental health problems of patients undergoing this treatment have gradually attracted widespread attention. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships among the level of hope, the fertility quality of life and negative emotions of patients who underwent IVF-ET treatment for the first time to provide a scientific basis for subsequent psychological support interventions.

METHODS

This study was a cross-sectional survey conducted at the Reproductive Medicine Center of Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University. From February 2023 to October 2023, 1425 patients who received IVF-ET treatment for the first time participated in the questionnaire survey. The survey content included the General Information Questionnaire, the Fertility Quality of Life (FertiQoL) Questionnaire, and the Herth Hope Index (HHI). Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine the relationships among the level of hope, fertility quality of life, and negative emotions.

RESULTS

The survey included 805 women and 620 men representing 603 couples. The level of hope in patients undergoing IVF-ET treatment for the first time was positively correlated with fertility quality of life (r = 0.247, P < 0.01), and the level of hope was negatively correlated with negative emotions (stress: r = - 0.135, P < 0.01; anxiety: r = - 0.105, P < 0.01; depression: r = - 0.189, P < 0.01). Fertility quality of life was negatively correlated with negative emotions (stress: r = - 0.609, P < 0.01; anxiety: r = - 0.533, P < 0.01; depression: r = - 0.591, P < 0.01). Among couples undergoing IVF-ET treatment for the first time, the husband's level of hope (r = 0.131, P < 0.01), fertility quality of life (r = 0.372, P < 0.01), and negative emotions (stress: r = 0.181, P < 0.01; anxiety: r = 0.163, P < 0.01; depression: r = 0.210, P < 0.01) were positively correlated with those of his wife.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients undergoing their first IVF-ET treatment, there is a significant correlation among hope, fertility quality of life, and negative emotions. Moreover, within couples, the levels of hope, fertility quality of life, and negative emotions of husbands and wives mutually influence each other. Enhancing the level of hope in this population is conducive to alleviating negative emotions and improving their fertility quality of life. The mutual influence of spouses should not be overlooked in clinical practice, and psychological support for both partners should be emphasized.

Psychological Well-being of Patients in Reproductive Medicine Center: Clinicians' Perspectives

OBJECTIVES

This qualitative study aimed to comprehend the psychological well-beings and available interventions of current Chinese infertile patients, as well as investigate more integrated and effective patient support interventions, if necessary.

BACKGROUND

It is well known that infertility is a difficult struggle. Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) provide patients with the hope of having a child, but they also cause them pain and stress. There is a dearth of research on the mental health of infertile patients, particularly in developing nations such as China.

METHOD

Individual interviews were conducted with eight experienced clinicians at the Reproductive Medicine Center from five different hospitals. On the basis of the grounded theory, interviews were transcribed and recursively analysed with the NVivo 12 Plus software by a research team.

RESULTS

73 categories were created, which were then grouped into 12 subthemes that were combined to form the following themes: Theme I: Psychological Distress; Theme II: Sources of Distress; Theme III: Protective Factors; and Theme IV: Interventions.

CONCLUSIONS

The themes of subjective experience identified in the study reveal infertile patients' emotional disturbance and resources of distress, consistent with previous related studies. Despite limitations such as the relatively small number of participants and the exclusively self-report nature of qualitative study, the findings of the study imply the importance of emotional and physical support networks for infertile patients at Reproductive Medicine Centers, consistency of psychological awareness and adequate professional supports.

Relationship beliefs, attachment styles and depression among infertile women

The stigma of infertility in Pakistan has been conceded as a stressful clinical condition, significantly affecting women's over all wellbeing and spousal relationships. The present study aimed to investigate the connection between relationship beliefs, attachment styles and depression among infertile women. Ex post facto research design was employed. A total sample of 80 infertile women (40 primary and 40 secondary infertility) with age range of 25-45 years participated in the study through purposive sampling from two infertility centers of Lahore city. Data was collected using demographic information form, relationship belief inventory (RBI), attachment style questionnaire (ASQ) and depression scale of symptom checklist-revised (SCL-R). Result indicates that beliefs of disagreement is destructive (DID), mindreading is expected (MIE) and anxious attachment style were positively correlated with depression. Mindreading is expected' and anxious attachment' style emerged as the predictors of depression. However, no significant differences were found between both groups of primary and secondary infertile women. Considering, the dysfunctional relationship beliefs and negative attachment style with spouse as significant correlate and predictor of depression in infertile women. It is suggested to devise intervention focused on alleviating psychological issues related to infertility.

The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Intervention on Emotional States of Women Undergoing Fertility Treatment: A Meta-Analysis

For many infertile women, their inability to fulfill their aspirations and match society's expectations of motherhood may lead to mental illness. They frequently select in vitro fertilization (IVF) to achieve their wish to have children. In vitro fertilization is actually a multi-dimensional stressor. There are numerous psychological methods to assist patients decrease stress, among which mindfulness-based intervention is a prominent one. However, the effectiveness of mindfulness intervention in this group remains debatable. Therefore, our research seeks to evaluate the efficacy of mindfulness intervention in improving the emotional state of women undergoing in vitro fertilization by systematic review and meta-analysis, so as to provide a novel treatment plan for psychological therapy of this group. A meta-analysis was undertaken by scanning English databases PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library, Web of science, etc. Among them, the retrieval period is from the foundation of the database until July 5, 2022. Two investigators examined the literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and conducted meta-analysis using stata15.0 software. Six studies involving 964 infertile women were included. According to the meta-analysis, mindfulness was more effective than the control group in reducing anxiety, depression, and correlations in infertile women [standard mean difference, SMD = -0.31, 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.56 to -0.06], [SMD = -0.94, 95% CI: -1.84 to -0.03], [r = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.25-0.52]. In terms of mindfulness and self-compassion, there was no significant difference between the intervention and control groups [SMD = 0.73, 95% CI: -0.38 to -1.85], [SMD = 0.09, 95% CI: -0.19 to -0.37]. As an intervention strategy for infertile women with anxiety and despair, mindfulness intervention might be a treatment priority.

The effects of comprehensive nursing intervention on the negative emotions of patients with infertility

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of comprehensive nursing intervention (CNI) on the negative emotions of patients with infertility.

METHODS

A total of 132 patients were recruited as the study cohort and randomly divided into an observation group (n=62) and a control group (n=70). The patients in both groups underwent routine treatment and nursing. In addition, the patients in the observation group were administered CNI. The quality of life (QOL) scores and depression levels of all the patients were evaluated after the intervention.

RESULTS

Before the CNI, the QOL scores and the anxiety and depression levels showed no significant differences between two the groups (P>0.05). After the intervention, the observation group showed much higher mild-depression and non-depression levels, higher mild-anxiety and non-anxiety levels and higher QOL and physiological function scores than the control group (all P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

CNI has an effect on the negative emotions of patients with infertility.