Κατεύθυνση Διασυνδετική Ψυχιατρική και Απαρτιωμένη Φροντίδα Σωματικής και Ψυχικής Υγείας
Library of the School of Health Sciences

2025-03-13

2025

Babi Ana

Μιχόπουλος Ιωάννης, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ, Επιβλέπων
Γουρνέλλης Ρωσσέτος, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Παπαδοπούλου Αθανασία, Διδάκτωρ, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ

Η αναστοχαστική λειτουργία (mentalization), το άγχος και η κατάθλιψη σε μελλοντικούς γονείς που έχουν υποβληθεί σε διαδικασία υποβοηθούμενης αναπαραγωγής

Greek

Reflective functioning (mentalization), anxiety and depression in future parents that have undergone assisted reproduction procedure

According to WHO infertility is considered a health disorder that needs to be treated, while it affects approximately 15% of reproductive – aged couples worldwide. Aim of the present study is to investigate the association between reflective functioning, anxiety and depression in people that have undergone assisted reproduction procedure. Specifically, in our study a sample of 80 participants with an average age of 37.3 years (SD = 6.4 years) was examined, 42 of them being patients from the Assisted Reproduction Clinic of the General University Hospital “Attikon” and 38 being individuals with natural pregnancy from the general population. Participants were given a sociodemographic data questionnaire, the Reflective Functioning Questionnaire and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, which they answered voluntarily. Multiple linear regression analysis testing the association of the subscales of the two questionnaires and the demographic data of the participants indicate that the participants from the assisted reproduction group deal with higher levels of anxiety and scored higher in the subscale of Certainty about mental states of one’s self and the others, compared to those in the control group. Women were less certain about mental states of one’s self and the others’, compared to male participants, whereas no significant relationship was found between Uncertainty and any of the participants’ demographic characteristics. Moreover, significant association between having children, anxiety and depression levels was found, suggesting that those who have already children show higher levels of the respective symptoms, compared to first time parents. A Mann-Whitney test was performed, and the results indicated that women of the control group had significantly higher anxiety levels than men of the control group. As causation is not feasible, due to the research design, further research is required, in order to determine, whether infertility can have an impact on future parents’ mental health and also to enrich the existing literature. Psychological support provided by mental health experts in Assisted Reproduction Clinics is recommended.

Health Sciences

Infertility, Assisted reproduction, Reflective functioning, Mentalization, Anxiety, Depression, RFQ, HADS

No

0

Yes

60

52

File access is restricted until 2025-09-13.

https://pergamos.lib.uoa.gr/uoa/dl/object/3474067