Research on the relationship between social support and fertility quality of life in male infertility patients: the parallel mediating roles of mindfulness and total sperm motility

Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui     font:big middle small

Fund programs: National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 82260651)

Authors:Zhi Lihuan; Mireyi Jumanali; Maierhaba Abulizi; Xu Hua; He Lijuan

Keywords:infertility;social support;mindfulness;total sperm motility;fertility quality of life;parallel mediation

DOI:专辑:医药卫生科技

〔Abstract〕 ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between social support and fertility quality of life in male infertility patients, and to analyze the parallel mediating roles of mindfulness and total sperm motility, thereby providing a theoretical basis for interventions aimed at improving fertility quality of life in this population. MethodsThis study conducted a survey using anonymized electronic questionnaires among 680 infertile men from 2021 to 2024. The social support rating scale, mindful attention awareness scale, and fertility quality of life scale were used to assess social support, mindfulness, and fertility Quality of Life, respectively. Total sperm motility was evaluated through routine semen analysis. Pearson correlation analysis was performed to examine the relationships among scale scores, and the PROCESS macro was used to analyze the mediating effects of mindfulness and total sperm motility between social support and fertility quality of life. ResultsPearson correlation analysis showed that The fertility quality of life score was significantly positively correlated with the social support score ( r=0.350), subjective hosting score ( r=0.279), objective support score ( r=0.274), support utilization score ( r=0.206), mindfulness score ( r=0.434), and total sperm motility level ( r=0.155) (all P< 0.05). Mediation analysis demonstrated that both mindfulness and total sperm motility partially mediated the relationship between social support scores and fertility quality of life, with mediation effect proportions of 28.42% and 2.73%, respectively. Additionally, mindfulness scores and total sperm motility partially mediated the relationship between objective support (a subdimension of social support) and fertility quality of life, accounting for 28.78% and 3.7% of the effect, respectively. However, total sperm motility did not show significant mediation effects between subjective support, support utilization (other social support subdimensions), and fertility quality of life. ConclusionMindfulness and total sperm motility are potential factors through which social support influences fertility quality of life in male infertility patients. Clinically, mindfulness-based interventions to cultivate positive psychological traits, along with strategies to improve sperm motility, may enhance fertility quality of life in this population.