The effect of couple-group reality therapy on perceived stress and stigma of infertility, marital intimacy, and financial conflict management of infertile couples undergoing treatment at Royan Research Institute
Investigating the effect of couple-group reality therapy on reducing perceived stress and infertility stigma, increasing marital intimacy, and improving financial conflict management in infertile couples undergoing treatment at the Royan Research Institute
Design
A randomized, controlled clinical trial on eight couples.
Settings and conduct
going through the legal procedures and after obtaining the consent of the applicant couples and the groups, the intervention of the present study will be carried out on the experimental group and the control group will not receive any intervention.
Pre-test: before the start of the sessions
Post-test: 2 months after the post-test
8 sessions, each session 90 minutes
Focus on communication, problem solving and financial decision-making
Training in stress management skills, sharing experiences and reducing stigma
Participants/Inclusion and exclusion criteria
● Infertility diagnosis and treatment at Royan Research Institute
● At least one year has passed since the infertility diagnosis and both couples are aware of their status
● Age between 25 and 45 years
● Iranian nationality
● Resident in Tehran
● Willingness to participate in couple and group sessions
● 5 years have passed since their marriage.
Intervention groups
1: Introduction, goals and pre-test questionnaire
2: Identifying couples' problems and feelings (WDEP) technique
3: Responsibility training and positive feedback practice.
4: Identifying ineffective behaviors and practicing role-playing
5: Goal-oriented planning with the SMART technique.
6: Stress management and dealing with social stigma
7: Practicing communication skills and resolving financial conflict
8: Reviewing achievements and consolidating changes
Main outcome variables
Reality of couples-group therapy: perceived stress and stigma of infertility, marital intimacy, and financial conflicts.
General information
Reason for update
Acronym
IRCT registration information
IRCT registration number:IRCT20260628069991N1
Registration date:2026-07-13, 1405/04/22
Registration timing:registered_while_recruiting
Last update:2026-07-13, 1405/04/22
Update count:0
Registration date
2026-07-13, 1405/04/22
Registrant information
Name
Saedeh Bahramzadeh someh
Name of organization / entity
Country
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Phone
+98 21 4415 0817
Email address
s.bahramzadeh.4460@gmail.com
Recruitment status
Recruitment complete
Funding source
Expected recruitment start date
2026-07-11, 1405/04/20
Expected recruitment end date
2026-08-11, 1405/05/20
Actual recruitment start date
empty
Actual recruitment end date
empty
Trial completion date
empty
Scientific title
The effect of couple-group reality therapy on perceived stress and stigma of infertility, marital intimacy, and financial conflict management of infertile couples undergoing treatment at Royan Research Institute
Public title
The effect of couple-group reality therapy on perceived stress and stigma of infertility, marital intimacy, and financial conflict management of infertile couples undergoing treatment
Purpose
Education/Guidance
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:
● Infertility diagnosis and treatment at Royan Research Institute● At least one year has passed since the infertility diagnosis and both couples are aware of their status● Age between 25 and 45 years● Iranian nationality● Resident in Tehran● Willingness to participate in couple and group sessions● 5 years have passed since their marriage
Exclusion criteria:
● Dropping out of treatment or not attending at least 80% of sessions● Having a child or adopted child● Having a history of remarriage● Receiving previous psychological interventions in the area of the components of the present study● Having chronic mental disorders
Age
From 25 years old to 45 years old
Gender
Both
Phase
N/A
Groups that have been masked
No information
Sample size
Target sample size:
32
Randomization (investigator's opinion)
N/A
Randomization description
Blinding (investigator's opinion)
Not blinded
Blinding description
Placebo
Not used
Assignment
Factorial
Other design features
Secondary Ids
empty
Ethics committees
1
Ethics committee
Name of ethics committee
Ethics Committee in Research, Faculty of Medicine - Tehran Islamic Azad University of Medical Scienc
Street address
Tehran, Dr. Shariati St., Qolhek Intersection, Amir Paborja St., Aineh Blvd., corner of Gol Yakh St., Headquarters Building of Tehran Islamic Azad University of Medical Sciences.
City
Tehran
Province
Tehran
Postal code
1949635881
Approval date
2026-06-08, 1405/03/18
Ethics committee reference number
IR.IAU.TMU.REC.1405.093
Health conditions studied
1
Description of health condition studied
Mental health
ICD-10 code
ICD-10 code description
Primary outcomes
1
Description
Percentage of people with infertility stress
Timepoint
Measuring infertility stress before and after reality therapy intervention
Method of measurement
Infertility Stress: Fertility Problem Inventory (Newton et al., 1999)
2
Description
People with Perceived Stigma of Infertility
Timepoint
Measuring the perceived stigma of infertility before and after the reality therapy intervention
Tehran, Dr. Shariati St., Qolhek Intersection, Amir Paborja St., Aineh Blvd., corner of Gol Yakh St., Headquarters Building of Tehran Islamic Azad University of Medical Sciences.
City
Tehranس
Province
Tehran
Postal code
1949635881
Phone
+98 912 438 2780
Email
s.bahramzadeh.4460@gmail.com
Grant name
Grant code / Reference number
Is the source of funding the same sponsor organization/entity?
No
Title of funding source
The researcher herself
Proportion provided by this source
100
Public or private sector
Public
Domestic or foreign origin
Domestic
Category of foreign source of funding
empty
Country of origin
Type of organization providing the funding
Other
Person responsible for general inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Saideh Bahramzadeh Soumeh
Position
Student
Latest degree
Bachelor
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
No. 9, West Ferdous Boulevard, 19th East South Varzi Street
City
Tehran
Province
Tehran
Postal code
9087433387
Phone
+98 21 4415 0817
Email
s.bahramzadeh.4460@gmail.com
Person responsible for scientific inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Amir Hossein Yavari
Position
Assistant Professor
Latest degree
Ph.D.
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
Hamedan, Shahid Madani Town, Imam Khomeini Blvd., Professor Musivand Blvd., Azad University Complex, Hamedan Branch
City
Hamedan
Province
Hamadan
Postal code
۶۵۱۸۱۱۵۷۴۳
Phone
+98 81 3448 1000
Email
ah.yavari@iau.ac.ir
Person responsible for updating data
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Saideh Bahramzadeh Soumeh
Position
Student
Latest degree
Bachelor
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
No. 9, West Ferdous Boulevard, 19th East South Varzi Street
City
Tehran
Province
Tehran
Postal code
9765432228
Phone
+98 21 4415 0817
Email
s.bahramzadeh.4460@gmail.com
Sharing plan
Deidentified Individual Participant Data Set (IPD)
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Study Protocol
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Statistical Analysis Plan
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Informed Consent Form
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Clinical Study Report
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Analytic Code
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Data Dictionary
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available