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:: Volume 36, Issue 1 (Spring 2026) ::
MEDICAL SCIENCES 2026, 36(1): 90-100 Back to browse issues page
The effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy on body image concerns and sexual function of infertile women
Zahra Dastar1 , Mahdieh Nejati2 , Bahman Abdolpour2 , Hadi Smkhani Akbarinejhad3
1- BA in General Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
2- MA in General Psychology, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran
3- , hadiAkbarinejhad@yahoo.com
Abstract:   (617 Views)
Background: Infertile women face psychological and sexual problems; therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on the body image concerns and sexual function of infertile women.
Materials and methods: This study was semi-experimental with a pretest-posttest and follow-up with a control group design. Among the women referred to infertility centers in Tabriz city in 2024, 30 people were selected using available sampling method and randomly assigned to two experimental and control groups, each group 15 people. The experimental group received ACT in 8 sessions of 1.5 hours (two months, one session per week) as a group; but the control group did not receive any intervention. Both groups answered the 19-question Littleton & et al.'s body image concerns and 19-question Rosen et al.'s Female sexual function questionnaire before, after, and 4 months after the intervention. Data were Analyzed using ANOVA with repeated measures.
Results: There was no significant difference between body image concerns and sexual function scores in the experimental and control groups in the pretest (P<0.05). The results showed that ACT compared to the control group reduced and increased body image concerns and sexual function in infertile women at the post-test, respectively (P<0.001) And these results were sustained at follow-up (P<0.001).
Conclusion: According to the results of the study, it can be said that acceptance and commitment therapy can probably reduce body image concerns and increase sexual function in infertile women.
 
Keywords: Acceptance and commitment therapy, Body image concerns, Sexual function, Infertility
Full-Text [PDF 831 kb]   (224 Downloads)    
Semi-pilot: Semi-pilot | Subject: psychology
Received: 2025/05/1 | Accepted: 2025/08/20 | Published: 2026/03/30
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Dastar Z, Nejati M, Abdolpour B, Smkhani Akbarinejhad H. The effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy on body image concerns and sexual function of infertile women. MEDICAL SCIENCES 2026; 36 (1) :90-100
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Volume 36, Issue 1 (Spring 2026) Back to browse issues page
فصلنامه علوم پزشکی دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد پزشکی تهران Medical Science Journal of Islamic Azad Univesity - Tehran Medical Branch
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