ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to understand the relationship between psychosocial factors, including mental health, pain cognitions and social support associated with menstrual pain severity in women with dysmenorrhea of no identified medical cause (primary dysmenorrhea; PD) and dysmenorrhea related to endometriosis. Participants included 1192 women aged 18–50 years with menstrual pain, recruited to an online cross-sectional survey in 2019. Questionnaires assessed self-reported menstrual pain severity, depression, anxiety, stress, pain catastrophizing, and social support. Women with endometriosis had significantly higher menstrual pain severity (p < 0.001) and pain catastrophizing (p < 0.001) than women with PD. Of the psychosocial factors, only pain catastrophizing (specifically, the helplessness sub-scale) predicted menstrual pain severity in each group. Overall, 36% of women with PD and 58% with endometriosis had clinically relevant levels of pain catastrophizing. Findings suggest a common psychological mechanism in women with menstrual pain, regardless of etiology. Interventions to reduce pain helplessness may be beneficial in supporting women with dysmenorrhea.

摘要

本研究的目的是了解心理社会因素之间的关系，包括心理健康、疼痛认知和社会支持与无明确医学原因的痛经（原发性痛经；PD）和与子宫内膜异位症相关的痛经的女性的经痛严重程度相关。参与者包括 1192 名年龄在 18-50 岁的经痛女性，他们于 2019 年被招募参加一项在线横断面调查。问卷评估了自我报告的经痛严重程度、抑郁、焦虑、压力、疼痛灾难性和社会支持。子宫内膜异位症女性的月经痛严重程度（p < 0.001）和灾难性疼痛（p < 0.001）明显高于 PD 女性。在社会心理因素中，只有灾难性的疼痛（特别是，无助子量表）预测每组的月经疼痛严重程度。总体而言，36% 的 PD 女性和 58% 的子宫内膜异位症女性具有临床相关水平的灾难性疼痛。研究结果表明，无论病因如何，经痛女性都有一种常见的心理机制。减少疼痛无助的干预措施可能有助于支持患有痛经的女性。