Mindfulness Interventions and Psychological Well-Being in Women Experiencing Infertility: An Integrative Review
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Background and Objectives: Infertility is a significant social and public health issue affecting 17.5% of the global population and 11% of women in the United States. Infertility affects an individual’s health, relationships, finances, and psychological well-being. This integrative review appraises the evidence on mindfulness interventions that promote psychological well-being in women experiencing infertility. Materials and Methods: CINAHL, PsycINFO, and PubMed were searched for publications from 2013 to 2026. The Mixed-Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) was used to appraise methodological quality. Seventeen studies were synthesized using an evidence table and comparative and thematic analyses. Results: Mindfulness interventions reduced stress, depressive symptoms, and anxiety and improved emotional regulation, self-efficacy, well-being, and self-compassion in women experiencing infertility. Only one included study measured all six dimensions of psychological well-being directly, reporting improvement in each. Two studies reported higher pregnancy rates among women receiving mindfulness interventions, but these findings do not establish a causal effect on reproductive outcomes. Conclusions: Mindfulness interventions show promise for reducing stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms in women experiencing infertility, although the evidence is limited by small samples, short follow-up, and heterogeneous designs and measures. Nurses may consider mindfulness interventions as one component of psychosocial care. Larger, rigorously designed trials, including studies in the United States, are needed to establish efficacy. Future research should measure all six dimensions of psychological well-being.
Source: Medicina
Authors: Megan Dubas, Elizabeth Mollard, Susan Barnason
Institution: University of Nebraska Medical Center
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,654
OpenAlex ID: W7225645695