KMAN Publication Inc. (KMANPUB) Psychology of Woman Journal 3041-8615 In Press 2027 07 01 Predicting Psychological Distress Based on Psychological Flexibility, Attachment Needs, and Alexithymia in Infertile Women Following Unsuccessful IVF Predicting Psychological Distress Based on Psychological Flexibility, Attachment Needs, and Alexithymia in Infertile Women Following Unsuccessful IVF 1 16 EN Journal Article 2026 05 25 <p><strong>Objective:</strong> The present study aimed to predict psychological distress based on psychological flexibility, attachment needs, and alexithymia among infertile women who had experienced unsuccessful in vitro fertilization (IVF).</p> <p><strong>Methods and Materials:</strong> This quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive-correlational study was conducted using structural equation modeling. The statistical population comprised infertile women receiving treatment in infertility centers in Shiraz, Iran, during 2025–2026 who had experienced at least one unsuccessful IVF cycle. A total of 280 eligible women were selected through purposive non-probability sampling. Data were collected using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (Lovibond &amp; Lovibond, 1995), Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (Dennis &amp; Vander Wal, 2010), Marital Attachment Needs Scale (Samani et al., 2023), and Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlations and structural equation modeling with SPSS 26 and AMOS 24.</p> <p><strong>Findings:</strong> Structural analyses showed that psychological flexibility significantly predicted psychological distress (β = .58, p &lt; .001). Attachment needs were also a significant predictor of psychological distress (β = .48, p &lt; .001). In addition, alexithymia significantly predicted psychological distress (β = .43, p &lt; .001). Correlation analysis further showed significant associations between psychological distress and psychological flexibility (r = −.17, p &lt; .01), attachment needs (r = −.47, p &lt; .05), and alexithymia (r = .65, p &lt; .01).</p> <p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Psychological flexibility, attachment needs, and alexithymia are important psychological factors associated with distress following unsuccessful IVF. Assessment of these variables may help identify women at greater psychological risk and support the development of targeted psychological interventions alongside infertility treatment.</p> https://www.journals.kmanpub.com/index.php/psywoman/article/download/6004/11628