To Örebro University

oru.seÖrebro University Publications
EnglishSvenskaNorsk
Change search
CiteExportLink to record
Permanent link

Direct link
Cite
Citation style
  • apa
  • ieee
  • modern-language-association-8th-edition
  • vancouver
  • Other style
More styles
Language
  • de-DE
  • en-GB
  • en-US
  • fi-FI
  • nn-NO
  • nn-NB
  • sv-SE
  • Other locale
More languages
Output format
  • html
  • text
  • asciidoc
  • rtf
Avoiding or enduring painful sex?: A prospective study of coping and psychosexual function in vulvovaginal pain
Örebro University, School of Law, Psychology and Social Work. (Center for Health and Medical Psychology (CHAMP))ORCID iD: 0000-0001-8350-1836
Örebro University, School of Law, Psychology and Social Work. (Center for Health and Medical Psychology (CHAMP))ORCID iD: 0000-0003-2718-7402
Department of Psychology, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, Sweden.
Örebro University, School of Law, Psychology and Social Work. (Center for Health and Medical Psychology (CHAMP))ORCID iD: 0000-0001-9429-9012
Show others and affiliations
2018 (English)In: European Journal of Pain, ISSN 1090-3801, E-ISSN 1532-2149, Vol. 22, no 8, p. 1388-1398Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Background: Recurring vulvovaginal pain is common, with evident effects on affected women's lives. Little is known about how affected women cope with painful sexual activities and how coping relates to pain intensity and psychosexual functioning over time. This prospective study explored the impact of avoidance and endurance on sexual function over time. Additionally, patterns of coping were studied on an individual level to increase knowledge about coping and its relation to psychosexual functioning.

Methods: One hundred and seventeen women, 18-35years old, with recurring vulvovaginal pain answered questionnaires at two measurement points, five months apart, assessing avoidance and endurance coping, pain intensity and psychosexual functioning. A multiple regression model explored the predictive value of avoidance and endurance on sexual function over time. Cluster analyses investigated patterns of coping and stability within the clusters. These subgroups were compared on psychosexual outcomes.

Results: Avoidance at baseline was the only significant predictor of sexual function five months later. Distinct and stable subgroups with different patterns of coping were identified, where avoidance and endurance coping were used both separately and combined. Women who both avoided and endured had the most unfavourable outcomes in terms of psychosexual functioning.

Conclusions: Avoidance of sexual activities was related to reduced sexual function over time, which calls for attention and clinical interventions targeting avoidance. Additionally, women who both avoid and endure sexual activities despite pain possibly need tailored interventions, as women with this coping pattern reported the lowest levels of psychosexual functioning.

Significance: In this prospective study, avoidance of sexual activities predicted sexual function over time, when controlling for pain intensity. Subgroups of women using distinct patterns of coping were identified. Those who both avoided and endured had the lowest levels of psychosexual functioning.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
John Wiley & Sons, 2018. Vol. 22, no 8, p. 1388-1398
National Category
Psychology Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Neurology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-66612DOI: 10.1002/ejp.1227ISI: 000441435800002PubMedID: 29635880Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85045933115OAI: oai:DiVA.org:oru-66612DiVA, id: diva2:1198245
Available from: 2018-04-17 Created: 2018-04-17 Last updated: 2021-11-04Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Vulvodynia: Understanding the Role of Pain-related Behavior
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Vulvodynia: Understanding the Role of Pain-related Behavior
2021 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Over the last decades, psychological mechanisms have been identified as key in the understanding of pain development and maintenance of vulvodynia. Furthermore, psychological treatments in the form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) have proven helpful for those suffering. Still, prospective studies investigating psychological mechanisms over time are lacking, as are clinical studies investigating their role in treatment.

The overall aim of this dissertation is to further the understanding of pain-related behavior and its role in the development and maintenance of vulvodynia by applying a fear-avoidance-endurance theoretical framework. It further aimed at consolidating the understanding of such a framework through a clinical proof of concept investigating the effect of a CBT treatment. Study I investigated the mediating role of avoidance and endurance behavior on the relationship between pain catastrophizing and pain. Study II prospectively investigated the predictive value of avoidance and endurance behavior on sexual function. Further, avoidance and endurance behavior were examined on an individual level to gain information on potential patterns of behavior. Study III investigated the effect of a CBT group treatment with partner involvement on pain and associated outcomes.

Taken together, the overall findings of this dissertation further point at the importance of psychological mechanisms such as pain catastrophizing, avoidance behavior, and endurance behavior in the development and maintenance of vulvodynia. While further manifesting similarities between mechanisms involved in vulvodynia and those involved in other persistent pain conditions, the findings also verify the relevance of the Fear-avoidance model and the complementary Avoidance-endurance model for vulvodynia. Finally, a new model of understanding was proposed: the Fear-avoidance-endurance model of vulvodynia, summarizing pain-related behavior involved in the development and maintenance of vulvodynia.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Örebro: Örebro University, 2021. p. 74
Series
Örebro Studies in Psychology, ISSN 1651-1328 ; 43
Keywords
Vulvodynia, PVD, Pain-related behavior, Avoidance behavior, Endurance behavior, Pain catastrophizing, Cognitive behavioral therapy
National Category
Psychology (excluding Applied Psychology)
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-94533 (URN)9789175294100 (ISBN)
Public defence
2021-12-02, Örebro universitet, Långhuset, Hörsal L2, Fakultetsgatan 1, Örebro, 10:15 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2021-09-23 Created: 2021-09-23 Last updated: 2021-12-02Bibliographically approved

Open Access in DiVA

No full text in DiVA

Other links

Publisher's full textPubMedScopus

Authority records

Engman, LinneaFlink, IdaBoersma, KatjaLinton, Steven J.

Search in DiVA

By author/editor
Engman, LinneaFlink, IdaBoersma, KatjaLinton, Steven J.
By organisation
School of Law, Psychology and Social Work
In the same journal
European Journal of Pain
PsychologyAnesthesiology and Intensive CareNeurology

Search outside of DiVA

GoogleGoogle Scholar

doi
pubmed
urn-nbn

Altmetric score

doi
pubmed
urn-nbn
Total: 641 hits
CiteExportLink to record
Permanent link

Direct link
Cite
Citation style
  • apa
  • ieee
  • modern-language-association-8th-edition
  • vancouver
  • Other style
More styles
Language
  • de-DE
  • en-GB
  • en-US
  • fi-FI
  • nn-NO
  • nn-NB
  • sv-SE
  • Other locale
More languages
Output format
  • html
  • text
  • asciidoc
  • rtf
v. 2.45.0
|
WCAG
|
Örebro University Library
|
DiVA Portal
|
DiVA Log in
|
Register in DiVA
|
Contact us