The effect of counseling based on acceptance and commitment therapy on mental health and quality of life among infertile couples: a randomized controlled trial
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INTRODUCTION: Infertility by creating a disturbing and debilitating condition is considered as an important individual, public, and social health problem. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of counseling based on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on mental health and quality of life in infertile couples. METHODS: In this randomized controlled trial, 54 infertile couples referring to the Sanandaj-Iran Infertility Clinic were assigned into two groups of counseling and control by random blocking with a 1:1 ratio. The consulting group received 8 weekly 90-min sessions of group counseling based on ACT. The General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) and Fertility Quality of Life were completed before and 1 month after the completion of the intervention. Primary outcome measures were mean score of mental health and quality of fertility life. Independent t -test, ANCOVA, and Mann–Whitney U-test were used to analyze data. RESULTS: There was no significant intergroup difference in demographic information ( P > 0.05). One month after the end of the intervention, the mean overall mental health score in the couples of the counseling group was significantly less than the control group (adjusted mean difference [aMD]: −8.4; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −10.4–−6.4; P < 0.001). Furthermore, the mean overall score of quality of life in the counseling group couples was significantly more than the control group (aMD: 14.8; 95% CI: 11.8–17.9; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Based on the effectiveness of counseling based on ACT on mental health and quality of life in infertile couples, it can be used in the infertility clinics. Health-care providers and counselors should train in the ACT courses to improve the mental health and quality of life of infertile couples.
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Studies in the Middle East have applied ACT to infertility-related distress with promising results.
“To date, studies conducted in the Middle East have applied ACT to infertility-related distress with promising results,38–40 though it has yet to be tested in North America.”
From Infertility-related distress and clinical targets for psychotherapy: A qualitative study (2021) · cites this paper as [38]
There have been only three studies from the Middle East testing ACT for individuals experiencing infertility, with promising results.
“To date, there have been only three studies from the Middle East testing the use of ACT for individuals experiencing infertility, with promising results [14–16].”
From Acceptance and commitment therapy adapted for women with infertility: a pilot study of the Infertility ACTion program. (2024) · cites this paper as [14]
Counseling based on ACT improved mental health and quality of life in infertile couples.
“Hosseinpanahi et al. found that counseling based on ACT improved mental health and quality of life in infertile couples [3].”
From The Effects of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Plus Positive Thinking Training on Distress and Wellbeing in Infertile Women With Marital Conflicts (2021) · cites this paper as [3]
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- Authors
- Hosseinpanahi, M., Mirghafourvand, M., Farshbaf-Khalili, A., Esmaeilpour, K., Rezaei, M., & Malakouti, J.
- Affiliations
- Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (IR)
- Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences (IR)
- Corresponding author
- Malakouti, Jamileh
- Venue
- Journal of Education and Health Promotion
- Published
- 2020-01
- Volume
- 9
- Pages
- 251-251
- ISSN
- 2277-9531 (ISSN-L)
- 2319-6440
- PMC
- PMC7657407
- OpenAlex
- W3088905138
- Cited by
- 29
- References
- 24
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 1
- FWCI
- 3.75
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Education and Health Promotion (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Reproductive Health and Technologies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Keywords
- acceptance and commitment therapy, infertility, infertile couples, group counseling, mental health, quality of life, FertiQoL, psychological intervention
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