Associations Between Trait Mindfulness and Distress in Fertility Patients

Abstract: Background: Women who experience fertility problems often report high levels of distress. Trait mindfulness, or the tendency to be present-minded and accepting of one’s thoughts and feelings, could offset this distress. Aims: In two cross-sectional studies, we tested if fertility patients who were higher in trait mindfulness were lower in psychological distress as measured by anxiety and depressive symptoms, fertility-specific distress, and anticipated negative emotions. Method: Study 1 ( N = 324; Age M = 34.3; 90% White) included women who had recently sought treatment for fertility problems, and Study 2 ( N = 102; Age M = 32.9; 94% White) included fertility patients who were having a consult for their first in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. Both studies tested associations between trait mindfulness, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Study 1 also measured fertility-specific distress and Study 2 measured anticipated negative emotions for IVF outcomes. Results: Trait mindfulness was moderately associated with every indicator of distress ( rs ranged = .34 – .57). Those higher in mindfulness were less anxious, less depressed, had lower distress about fertility problems (Study 1), and anticipated fewer negative emotions if treatment should fail (Study 2). Higher mindfulness was particularly important when imagining IVF treatment failed. Limitations: Both samples were predominantly White and highly educated, and a more general sample of women with fertility problems should be tested. Conclusion: This research contributes to a small literature exploring personality traits in fertility patients. When experiencing fertility problems or navigating IVF treatment, women lower in trait mindfulness may need more mental health support.