Tarbiat Modares University (TMU) Health Education and Health Promotion 2588-5715 12 2 2025 07 13 Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Infertility-Related Stigma and Sexual Self-Esteem in Infertile Women 323 329 2533 10.58209/hehp.12.2.323 EN F. Zarean Department of Counseling, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran A. Sheykholeslami Department of Counseling, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran E. Sadri Damirchi Department of Counseling, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran A. Rezaei Sharif Department of Counseling, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran Journal Article 2025 07 13 <span>Aims:</span><span> Infertility can cause social stigma and erode sexual self-esteem in women, highlighting the need to explore interventions like mindfulness-based cognitive therapy to address these challenges. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on infertility-related stigma and sexual self-esteem in infertile women.</span><br> <span>Materials & Methods:</span> <span>This was a three-stage (pre-test, post-test, and follow-up) two-group (experimental and control) quasi-experimental study. To conduct the study, all infertile women referred to infertility treatment centers in Isfahan City in early 2023 were recruited using a convenience sampling method based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. A total of 40 participants were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n=20) or the control group (n=20). The sample group completed the Infertility-Related Stigma Questionnaire and the Sexual Self-Esteem Scale in three stages: Pre-test, post-test, and follow-up. The experimental group received an 8-session MBCT (one 90-minute session per week). Repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyze the results.</span><br> <span>Findings:</span><span> Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy significantly improved infertility-related stigma in the social withdrawal, family stigma, and public stigma dimensions (p<0.01). However, the intervention was not significantly effective in enhancing sexual self-esteem in infertile women. </span><br> <span>Conclusion:</span><span> Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy significantly reduces infertility-related stigma, specifically in the social withdrawal dimension. </span><br> https://hehp.modares.ac.ir/article_2533_4de754248c196c85ee4fbdcee89179bd.pdf