Group tele-art therapy intervention in women undergoing in vitro fertilization: A randomized control study

Abstract

We investigated the effects of group tele-art therapy (GTAT)—namely, the appreciation of art masterpieces—on infertility stress, fertility quality of life (FertiQoL), and psychological well-being. We employed a randomized true experimental, pre-testpost-test control design using experimental, comparison, and control groups of 27 women (M_age = 37.7 years) who had undergone at least two in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. Group homogeneity was tested using Fisher’s exact test and repeated measures analysis of variance. GTAT involving the appreciation of art masterpieces significantly decreased infertility stress. No significant changes were observed in infertility stress for the comparison and control groups. GTAT significantly improved FertiQoL. Regarding scores in the subscales of FertiQoL, emotional FertiQoL and mindbody FertiQoL scores improved significantly, while social FertiQoL and relational FertiQoL scores did not. No significant changes were observed in FertiQoL scores in the comparison and control groups. GTAT significantly improved psychological well-being, but no significant changes were observed in the comparison and control groups. This study is the first to show that GTAT involving an appreciation of art masterpieces is an effective intervention for addressing infertility stress, FertiQoL scores, and psychological well-being in women undergoing IVF. GTAT is thus a good alternative to increase access to psychotherapy for women with infertility with psychological challenges undergoing IVF.