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Experimental emotional disclosure in women undergoing infertility treatment: Are drop outs better off?

TitleExperimental emotional disclosure in women undergoing infertility treatment: Are drop outs better off?
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2009
AuthorsPanagopoulou, E., Montgomery A., & Tarlatzis B.
JournalSoc Sci Med
Volume69
Issue5
Pagination678-81
Date Published2009 Sep
ISSN1873-5347
KeywordsAdaptation, Psychological, Adult, Analysis of Variance, Chi-Square Distribution, Embryo Transfer, Emotions, Female, Fertilization in Vitro, Humans, Infertility, Patient Dropouts, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Outcome, Questionnaires, Self Disclosure, Stress, Psychological, Writing
Abstract

So far, the beneficial effects of personal written emotional disclosure have been mainly examined in relation to past or current stressful/traumatic experiences. The anticipation of a medical event has rarely been studied within this paradigm. This randomized-controlled study examined whether written emotional disclosure would reduce emotional distress and increase pregnancy rates in women undergoing in-vitro fertilization treatment. Participants recruited from women who were undergoing IVF in the north of Greece (n=148) were randomized to an emotional-writing condition, a fact-writing condition and a control condition. Outcomes included fertility-related distress, general distress and a positive indication of pregnancy. Psychological and medical information about women who refused to participate were also collected, and this represented a fourth group for analysis (n=66). Results indicated no significant difference between groups in terms of emotional distress. However, a significant difference was observed with regard to pregnancy results, with the non-participants group reporting the highest percentage of pregnancies. The present study did not support the hypotheses that emotional disclosure will reduce infertility-related or general psychological distress and improve pregnancy outcomes in women undergoing in-vitro fertilization treatment. However, women who refused to participate in the study were more likely to get pregnant. Differences in the beneficial effects of emotional disclosure are discussed.

DOI10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.06.031
Alternate JournalSoc Sci Med
PubMed ID19615806

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