The Prediction of Body Image Based on Mindfulness and Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies in Infertile Couples

Abstract Introduction: Infertility and its treatment bring about such consequences as disturbance, frustration, depression, anxiety, hopelessness, feeling of guilt, and feeling of worthlessness in life. Objective: Determine the components of mindfulness and cognitive emotion regulation strategies on body image infertile couples Shiraz. Materials and Methods: The present research was a descriptive correlational study. All infertile couples presenting to the Mother and Child Hospital of Shiraz in the summer of 2013, constituted the statistical population of this study. The research sample consisted of 120 infertile couples who were selected via convenience sampling method. Body Image, Five Facet Mindfulness and Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaires were employed to collect data. Data analysis was performed through Pearson correlation and Stepwise regression analysis. Results: The results showed a positive correlation between body image and all components of mindfulness consisting of observation (r = 0.19, P = 0.003), description (r = 0.36, P= 0.000), act with awareness (r = 0.33, P = 0.000), accept without judgment (r = 0.27, P= 0.000) and lack of response to internal experience (r = 0.26, p = 0.000). Also, there was a negative correlation between the mean of body image and negative emotional regulation strategies including self-blame (r = -0.26, P = 0.000), rumination (r = -0.16, P = 0.004), and catastrophe  (r =-0.27, P = 0.000). Also, the results revealedapositive correlation between body image and positive cognitive strategies of emotion regulation including positive refocus (r = 0.35, P = 0.000), refocus on planning (r = 0.38, P = 0.000), positive reappraisal (r = 0.50, P = 0.000) and putting into perspective (r = 0.23, p = 0.000). Stepwise regression results showed that positive refocus (β=0.51), rumination (β=-0.16), observation observation (β=0.22) and self-blame (β=-0.16) are predictive power of body image in infertile couples and explain for 41.9% of the variance of infertile couples' body image. Conclusion: The findings of this study confirmed the relationship between mindfulness and cognitive emotion regulation strategies with body image of infertile couples. Therefore, it is suggested that the necessary conditions be provided for the collaboration of infertility specialists with psychologists in infertility treatment centers and it is also recommended that psychological counseling centers be established in these centers in order to improve the psychological problems of these patients. Conflict of interest: non declared