Comparing the effectiveness of I-BMS informed self-help interventions in alleviating psychosocial distress for women awaiting the outcome of IVF treatment

Abstract

Globally, it is estimated that approximately 9% of women are facing reproductive problems. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) are the primary medical procedures used to address these problems. Among all ARTs, in vitro fertilization (IVF) is the most popular form among infertile couples. However, the procedure is invasive, costly, and causes substantial physical and psychosocial distress. Previous studies reported that women’s anxiety level peaks during the 2-week waiting period between embryo transfer and pregnancy test. The present study aimed to develop self-help educational booklets administered by the women themselves during this 2-week period to alleviate their psychosocial distress. Based on the Integrative Body-Mind-Spirit (I-BMS) model, we developed three self-help booklets given to three groups of women (N = 207): 1) a booklet with instructions for spiritual reflection and relaxation exercises (Group SR), 2) a booklet comprised of spiritual reflective sessions only (Group S), and 3) a booklet that contained knowledge of body-mind wellness (Group BM). Results indicate that, across the 2-week waiting period, Groups SR and S showed deterioration in a range of psychosocial domains, marked by significant increases in state anxiety, trait anxiety, bodily irritability, and spiritual disorientation, as well as significant decreases in general vitality, life satisfaction, and emotional fertility-related quality of life. However, Group BM only reported significant increase in state anxiety; no other psychosocial outcomes showed significant changes over the 2-week period. Thus, relative to instructions for spiritual reflections, knowledge on body-mind wellness better protected women from deteriorating in a range of psychosocial outcomes during the waiting period prior to pregnancy test in the course of IVF treatment.