| ObjectiveTo analyze factors related to infertility-related stress and to test the effects of a WeChat-based mindfulness intervention on infertility-related stress among couples undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer(IVF-ET).MethodsThe participants were from a fertility hospital of Shandong Province.202 IVF-ET couples(102 couples in intervention group,100 couples in wait-list control group)raised in T1 time were to analyze factors related to infertility-related stress.While,154 couples(73 couples in intervention group,81 couples in wait-list control group)raised in T2 time to evaluate the effects of mindfulness intervention.A self-developed general information questionnaire,the Fertility Problem Inventory,the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale,the Family Adaptation,Partnership,Growth,Affection,Resolve,and the Big Five Inventory were used to collect the baseline data through an online survey tool Wenjuanxing.Then,the participants were split into intervention group(102 couples)and wait-list control group(100 couples).The intervention group received mindful voice and educational information of IVF-ET for 4 weeks through Wechat platform,whereas the wait-list control group only received educational information of IVE-ET through WeChat for 4 weeks.The effects of mindfulness intervention would be evaluated at the end of the intervention.Statistical analyses,including descriptive statistics,independent sample t-test,and multiple linear regressions were performed to analyze the dyadic interactions.Chi-squared test and repeated measure ANOVA were performed to examine the effect of the intervention.Results1.The socio-demographic and clinical information of IVF-ET couplesThe average age of wives was(31.84 ± 5.09)and husbands was(32.85 ± 5.37)years old,the average marriageable age was(6.81 ± 5.06)years,the average time since infertility diagnosis was(3.91 ±2.68)years,the average treatment time was(2.41 ± 1.83)years,60.4%of wives had reached or above junior-college degrees,61.4%of husbands were also in this education level,53.5%wives perceived a"balance" financial status and 31.2%perceived "insufficiency",55.4%and 31.2%husbands perceived "balance" and "insufficiency",64.9%wives were employed,and 90.1%husbands were employed,59.9%wives were from cities,and were same with 60.4%husbands,35.6%of husbands were smoking and 40.1%were drinking,40.6%of the couples experienced infertility caused by women,37.6%wives had a history of abortion,75.7%couples had no child,and 77.7%couples were the first time to enter IVF-ET treatment cycle.2.The scores of infertility-related stress and the difference between socio-demographic and clinical information among IVF-ET couplesThe total scores of infertility-related stress in wives were(141.25±28.63),and that of the husbands were(135.94±31.10).The wives had higher scores than husbands in 'need for parenthood'(P=0.032).The scores of infertility-related stress were differences in family income(P=0.013),and the "insufficiency" family had higher stress.The differences of stress scores among husbands at smoking status reached a critical statistical level(P=0.053).There was no statistical difference in other information among IVF-ET couples(P>0.05).3.The correlations between infertility-related stress and other variables among IVF-ET couplesThere was no statistical difference between infertility-related stress and socio-demographic information(age,marriageable age.time since infertility diagnosis,treatment time)among IVF-ET couples(P>0.05).There were significantly negative relationships between PFI scores and mindfulness level(r=-0.456/-0.497,P<0.001),family function(r=-0.421/-0.311,P<0.001),but positively correlated with neuroticism(r=0.509/0.561,P<0.001)among couples.In the dyadic relationships,the PFI scores was positively related to PFI scores(r=0.554,P<0.001),and neuroticism(r=0.419/0.561,P<0.001)of partner,and negatively correlated with mindfulness(r=-0.328/-0.497,P<0.001)and family function(r=-0.152/-0.311,P=0.031/<0.001)of partner.4.The dyadic relationship between infertility-related stress and its factors among IVF-ET couplesThe results of dyadic relationship showed when infertility-related stress of wives was regarded as the dependent variable,neuroticism(?=0.339,P<0.001)was a positive predictor,while mindfulness level(?=-0.259,P<0.001)and family function(?=-0.235,P<0.001)were negative predictors,explaining 38.7%of the variance.Meanwhile the neuroticism(?=0.195,P=0.003)and mindfulness level(?=-0.255,P<0.001)of husbands could significantly predict infertility-related stress of wives.When infertility-related stress of husbands was regarded as the dependent variable,mindfulness level(?=-0.255,P<0.001)and family function(?=-0.116,P=0.052)were negative predictors,meanwhile smoking(?=0.114,P=0.039)and neuroticism(?=0.342,P<0.001)were positive predictors,explaining 39.4%of the variance.However,the factors of wives couldn't predict infertility-related stress of husbands at a statistical level(P>0.05).5.The differences between intervention group and wait-list control group in the baseline levelThere were no group differences in socio-demographic and clinical,information among IVF-ET couples(P>0.05).The results of independent sample t-test showed that no significant differences were found in infertility-related stress and its sub-dimensions,mindfulness level,family function,and neuroticism in two groups(P>0.05).6.The intervention effects of mindfulness among IVF-ET couplesThe repeated measures ANOVAs results of wives showed that the time X group interaction effect was significant in rejection of childless lifestyle sub-dimension(P=0.002,?2P=0.059).Meantime,the time effect(P<0.001,?2P=0.279)and time X group interaction effect of mindfulness level was also significant(P=0.050,?2P=0.025).In other indicators,time X group interaction effect was not statistically significant(P>0.05).The results of husbands showed that the time effect(P<0.05)and time X group interaction effect was significant in terms of social concern(P=0.044,?2P=0.026),sexual concern(P=0.050,?2P=0.025),and relationship concern(P=0.054,?2P=0.024).The time X group interaction effect was also no significance(P>0.05)in other indicators.Conclusions1.Neuroticism could positively predict infertility-related stress and mindfulness level and family function could negatively predict infertility-related stress among IVF-ET couples.2.Neuroticism and mindfulness level of husbands could predict infertility-related stress of both self and spouse,while the psychosocial factor of wives couldn't predict the infertility-related stress of husbands.3.The effects of the WeChat-based mindfulness intervention had been verified.The significant improvements had been showed in rejection of childless lifestyle and mindfulness level among wives,as well as the improvements in social concern,sexual concern and relationship concern among husbands. |
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