Table 4 General characteristics of studies that were performed by other interventions (N = 30)

Gojani et al., 2017 [49]

Problemsolving skill training (PSS)

3 sessions of 40 to 45 min

Mental health and success of treatment

State Anxiety mean changes = − 6.41(12.11), t = 0.308, P = 0.004

Trait anxiety mean changes = 5.26(8.72), Z = 3.06, P = 0.002

Depression mean changes = 5.55(6.15), t = 5.266, P < 0.001

PSS was effective in reducing anxiety and depression but success of treatment was not effective

(P = 0.230).

Strong

Bahrami Kerchi et al., 2020 [50]

Psychological Empowerment Package and Dialectical Behavior

Therapy

Psychological empowerment

package (11 sessions of 90 min) and dialectical behavior therapy (8 sessions of 90 min)

Depression

F = 198.23, Eta = 0.82, P < 0.001

Empowerment package was effective in reducing depression (P < 0.001).

Moderate

Nekavand M et al., 2015 [51]

Relaxation

3 sessions of 1 h of group intervention

Infertility anxiety

F = 3.33, Eta = 0.033, P = 0.001

Relaxation was effective in reducing anxiety in experimental group (P < 0.05).

Moderate

Khalatbari et al., 2018 [52]

Integrated model of emotional focused approach and Gottman model

10 sessions of 120 min group intervention

Fear of Intimacy and anxiety

Fear of Intimacy F, Effect size = 27.09, 0.60, P = 0.001

Anxiety F, Effect size = 82.36, 0.60, P = 0.001

Both methods were effective in reducing fear of intimacy and anxiety (P < 0.001).

Moderate

Hosseini, M et al., 2017 [53]

Holistic-oriented psychological

11 sessions of two-hour (10 sessions for infertile women and 1 session for husbands)

Depression

Anxiety

Stress

Depression F, Eta = 30.33, 0.551, p = 0.000

Anxiety F, Eta = 36.59, 0.602, p = 0.0001

Stress F, Eta = 38.10, 0.604, p = 0.0001

Holistic-oriented psychological was effective in reducing anxiety, depression and stress (p < 0.0001).

Moderate

Hosseini, M, 2018 [54]

Holistic-oriented psychological

11 sessions of 120 min

Psychological health and fertility rate

Depression F, Eta = 42.19, 0.63, p < 0.001

Anxiety F, Eta = 40.47, 0.602, p < 0.0001

Stress F, Eta = 34.58, 0.58, p < 0.0001

Holistic-oriented psychological was effective in reducing anxiety, depression and stress in the post-test phase (p < 0.001).

Strong

Rahimi, R et al., 2015 [55]

Psychodrama

10 sessions of 2 h (one session per week)

Depression

F = 42.83, Eta = 0.611, P = 0.001

Psychodrama was effective in reducing depression (p < 0.001).

Moderate

Gojani et al2017, [56]

Positive reappraisal and problem-solving skills training

Positive reappraisal n (2 sessions) and problem solving skills (3 sessions) and control (routine care)

Anxiety

Positive reappraisal F = 10.75, p = 0.001,

problem-solving skills F = 4.58, p = 0.018

control group F = 4.49, p = 0.015

Anxiety decreased in both training groups and increased in the control group.

Strong

Farnia et al., 2019 [57]

Nursing versus

peer-based education methods

Nurse and peer-educated groups(30–60 min group education) Control (Only pre-discharge education)

Anxiety

Nurse-educated anxiety pre, post Mean (SD) = 44.47 ( 11.12), 39.38 ( 11.08), p < 0.001

Peer-educated pre, post Mean (SD) = 46.92 (9.87), 41.06 ( 9.27), p < 0.001

Both nurse and peer education programs were effective in reducing preoperative anxiety.

Moderate

Matthiesen et al., 2012 [58]

Expressive writing intervention (EWI)

Intervention group (three EWI writing tasks of 20-minute duration conducted over a 3-day period), control group (write in an emotionally neutral manner about their daily activities)

Infertility-related stress

Infertility stress pre, post, Follow-up Mean(SD) = 14.73 (8.7), 10.8 (8.23), 14.6, (8.63)

Effect time F, Eta = 2.28,0.32, P = 0.005

Interaction (group × time) F, ETA = 2.28 ,0.17, p = 0.07

Infertility-related stress was decreases after the intervention in the EWI group compared to controls.

Moderate

Zaidouni et al., 2019 [59]

Nursing Consultation Based on Orem’s Theory of Self‑care and Bandura’s Concept

3 sessions of 1 h each, 1 week apart

Infertility Stress

Perceived stress Pre, post Mean(SD) = 32.96 (1.819), 25.07 (6.19), t = 9.426, P < 0.001

General self‑efficacy stress Pre, post Mean(SD) = 22.59 (5.396), 29.23 (5.743), t= ‑6.888, P < 0.001

Nursing consultation was effective to decreasing perceived stress and increased self‑efficacy.

Moderate

Rabeipour et al., 2016 [60]

Group counseling by collaborative approaches

10 sessions of group counseling, including infertility treatment strategy, stress management, problem solving

Stress

Stress pre, post Mean(SD) = 170.52(30.71), 137.86(34.76), P = 0.002

Group counseling with collaborative approach was effective in reducing the stress of infertility.

Strong

Latifnejad Rodsarei et al., 2011 [61]

Infertility collaborative counseling

Five individual sessions, counseling with the participation of a midwife, a gynecologist and a clinical psychologist

Perceived stress

Perceived stress pre, post Mean(SD) = 26.8(153.6), 25.7(144.7), df = 28, P = 0.004

Collaborative counseling was effective in reducing the Perceived stress.

Moderate

Hamzehgardeshi et al., 2019 [14]

Group counseling

6 sessions of 2 h for 6 weeks

Perceived stress

Perceived stress pre, post T1, 2, 3 Mean(SD) = 166.75 ( 13.27), 115.75 ( 13.88), 118.08 (15.37), 120.50 ( 16.24), p < 0.001

Group counseling was effective in reducing the Perceived stress.

Moderate

Rahimi et al.,2021 [62]

Hope-oriented group counseling

Six 45–60 min sessions (once a week)

Mental health, quality of life (QoL)

Stress adjusted mean difference (95% CI) = − 1.7(− 3.2 to − 0.3), P = 0.018

Depression adjusted mean difference (95% CI) = − 1.3( 4.7 to − 1.5), P < 0.001

QoL adjusted mean difference (95% CI) = 6.9 (5.1 to 8.8), P < 0.001

Hope-oriented group counseling was effective in reducing stress and depression and improving (QoL).

Moderate

Mokhtari Sorkhani et al., 2021 [63]

Counseling for Infertile Couples

6 sessions of 45 min twice a week

Women’s Emotional Disturbance

Depression Mean(SD) = 1.55(1.92), P < 0.0001

Social support Mean(SD) = 15.73(3.41), P < 0.0001

Cognitions regarding fertility difficulties Mean(SD) = 26.48(3.05), P = 0.001

Anxiety Mean(SD) = 25.03(3.09), p = 0.35

Infertility counseling improved the domains of infertile women’ emotional status except, anxiety.

Moderate

Jamshidian-Qalehshahi et al., 2017 [64]

Iranian–Islamic Positive Therapy

11 sessions of 90 min

Depression, Anxiety, Stress

Depression Pre, post, fallow up Mean(SD) = 23.08(3.27), 16.69(4.19), 18.08(5.39), Post, fallow up F = 0.39, 0.26, Post, fallow up P = 0.0001, 0.010

Anxiety Pre, post, fallow up Mean(SD) = 16.07(2.07), 11.23(2.68), 12.07(3.06), Post, fallow up F = 0.52, 0.37, Post, fallow up P = 0.0001, 0.001

Stress Pre, post, fallow up Mean(SD) = 24.92(4.54), 18.38(2.99), 19.07(4.27), Post, fallow up F = 0.54, 0.40, Post, fallow up P = 0.0001, 0.001

Iranian–Islamic Positive Therapy is effective in reducing depression, anxiety, and stress in posttest, short- and long-term follow up.

Moderate

Zarif Golbar Yazdi. H et al., 2012 [65]

Wellbeing therapy

8 sessions weekly

Stress and psychological well-being

Stress Pre, post Mean(SD) = 25.81 (3.15), 14.54 (4.48), p < 0.026

Wellbeing Pre, post Mean(SD) = 297.72 (32.64), 383.45 (35.02), p < 0.000

Wellbeing therapy was effective in reducing stress and increasing psychological well-being (p < 0.05).

Moderate

Shahi-Senobari S et al., 2021 [66]

Positive psychotherapy based on belief to good

8 group sessions of 90 min, weekly

Mental health and marital quality

Mental health Pre, post, fallow up Mean(SD) = 30.73(3.75), 22.4(4.61), 22.4(3.99), F (Time× Group) = 30.1, P = 0.00

Marital quality Pre, post, fallow up Mean(SD) = 40.46(5.99), 48.73(6.43), 47.06(5.43), F (Time× Group) = 39, P = 0.000

Intervention was effect on mental health (P > 0.01), marital quality (P > 0.01and mental health outcomes were stable up to one-month follow-up (P > 0.01).

Moderate

Bahrami Karchi. A et al., 2020 [50]

Psychological empowerment therapy and dialectical

behavior therapy

Psychological empowerment (11 sessions of 90 min), Dialectic behavior therapy (8 sessions of 90 min)

Infertility stress

Mean difference(MD)= -41.62

 F = 554.74, Eta = 0.864, P = 0.001

Psychological empowerment therapy was more effective in reducing infertility stress than Dialectical Behavior Therapy.

Strong

Jamshidian QalehShahi et al.,2017 [67]

Iranian Positive Therapy(IPT) and Acceptance -Commitment Therapy(ACT)

11 sessions of 90 min, weekly

Depression, Anxiety, Stress

IPT Depression Pre, post, fallow up Mean(SD) = 23.08(3.27), 16.69(4.19), 18.08(5.39)

ACT Depression Pre, post, fallow up Mean(SD) = 22.85(3.07), 16.31(5.21), 18.15(5.11), Group F, Eta, p = 7.36, 0.285, 0.002

IPT Anxiety Pre, post, fallow up Mean(SD) = 16.38(2.21), 11.15(2.68), 12.07(3.06)

ACT Anxiety Pre, post, fallow up Mean(SD) = 16.07(2.07), 11.23(2.37), 11.46(4.43), Group F, Eta, p = 12.94, 0.412, 0.001

IPT Stress Pre, post, fallow up Mean(SD) = 24.92(4.54), 18.38(2.99), 19.07(4.27)

ACT Stress Pre, post, fallow up Mean(SD) = 25.23(4.19), 18.77(3.9), 18.92(4.31), Group F, Eta, p = 8.86, 0.32, 0.001

Both of the therapeutic methods were equally effective in reducing anxiety, stress and depression.

Moderate

Pasha et al., 2018 [68]

Antidepressant medication and psychological intervention

Psychosexual therapy(PST): weekly 2-hour session for 8 times, bupropion extended-release (BUP ER) at a dose of 150 mg/d for 8 week

Depression

PST Pre, post Mean(SD) = 24.59 (7.76), 10.42 (9.01), BUP ER Pre, post Mean(SD) = 22.42 (10.70),16.09 ± 11.81, Group F, P = 8.153, 0.001

PST can greater improvement in depression levels in comparison with the two other groups (P < 0.001).

Moderate

Soltani et al., 2014 [69]

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)

10 sessions

emotionally focused couple therapy program

Depression,

Anxiety, Stress

Depression Mean differences (SD) = 3.83(2.03), Z= -3.58, p < 0.0001

Anxiety Mean differences (SD) = 6.0(3.01), Z= -3.49, p < 0.0001

Stress Mean differences (SD) = 6.91(3.7), Z= -4.18, p < 0.0001

EFT decreased the rate of depression, anxiety in experimental group in comparison with the control group (p < 0.0001).

Moderate

de Barros Fleury et al., 2021 [70]

Music Therapy

50-minute individual sessions were applied before baseline ultrasound scan, oocyte pick-up, and embryo transfer.

Stress

Stress Pre, post, Mean(SD) = 20.4(9.91), 16.12(7.87), p = 0.004

Music therapy was effective

for stress reduction.

Strong

Aba et al., 2017 [71]

Music therapy

Twenty-eight minutes of music therapy was applied to the

music therapy group 1 h before and after the embryo transfer

Anxiety, pregnancy rate

State anxiety Pre, post, Mean(SD) = 38.16 (9.77), 33.39 (7.56), Trait anxiety Pre, post, Mean(SD) = 40.24 (7.29), 38.19 (7.36), p > 0.05

After the two sessions of music therapy, state and trait anxiety levels decreased and pregnancy rates

increased (p > 0.05).

Moderate

Mosalanejad, et al., 2013 [72]

Logotherapy

Spiritual group psychotherapy counseling for 12 sessions, 2 h per week for a 3 months

Perceived Stress, worry

Perceived stress Pre, post, Mean(SD) = 29.25(4.75), 28.18 (4.94), p = 0.27

Worry Pre, post Mean(SD) = 33.25(12.24), 27.31(13.50) p = 0.004

Logotherapy was effective to decrease psychiatric symptoms of worry and perceived stress. (p = 0.01)

Moderate

Hughes et al., 2011 [73]

Art therapy

Weekly 2-h art therapy group

Hopelessness, Depression,

Anxiety

Hopelessness pre, post Mean(SD) = 6.1 (3.8), 3.5 (3.1), P = 0.01

Depression pre, post Mean(SD) = 19.8 (11.0), 12.5 (10.2), P = 0.01

Anxiety pre, post Mean(SD) = 12.4 (8.4), 8.4 (5.2), P = 0.3

Art therapy was effect on decrease levels of hopelessness and depressed mood.

Moderate

Cousineau et al., 2007 [19]

Online psychoeducational support

View the program for two 45-min sessions or over several sittings over a four-week period with content up to 90 min

Infertility distress, infertility self-efficacy (ISE), decisional conflict, marital cohesion, coping style

Infertility-related stress (Group 1) pre, post, Mean(SD) = 162.73 (38.04), 153.74 (38.48)

Infertility-related stress (Group 2) pre, post, Mean(SD) = 160.31 (34.03), 158.61 (36.07), Z = 1.63, P = 0.10, d = 0.19

ISE(Group 1) pre, post, Mean(SD) = 51.41 (16.92), 56.06 (17.80), ISE(Group 2) pre, post, Mean(SD) = 50.10 (17.46), 52.14 (20.32), Z = 1.68, P = 0.093, d = 0.25

Web-based patient education intervention was effective to decreased global stress and increased infertility self-efficacy.

Strong

Jasani et al., 2016 [74]

Structured Yoga Program

Six-week yoga intervention (Each week included 30 min of discussion, 45 min of gentle Vinyasa-style yoga and 10–15 min of relaxation (savasana)).

Anxiety

State anxiety baseline, follow up Mean = 48.2, 38.4, p < 0.001

Trait anxiety baseline, follow up Mean = 44.6, 39.1, p < 0.014

Anxiety level was significantly lower after a structured six week yoga intervention (p < 0.05).

Moderate

Smith et al., 2011 [75]

Acupuncture

Six sessions of acupuncture over 8 weeks

Infertility self-efficacy, anxiety, infertility-related stress

Social concern MD (95%CI) = − 3.75(− 7.58 to 0.84), p = 0.05

Relationship concern MD(95% CI ) = − 3.66(− 6.80 to 0.052), p = 0.02

Self-efficacy MD (95% CI) = 11.09(− 2.20 to 26.0), p = 0.09

Anxiety MD(95%CI) = − 2.54(− 5.95 to 0.86), p = 0.08

Acupuncture was effective in reducing domains on the infertility stress, anxiety and improving self-efficacy.

Strong