Predictors of illness acceptance in women with endometriosis

Authors

  • Aleksandra Andysz Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine
  • Dorota Merecz-Kot University of Lodz

Keywords:

pain, infertility, endometriosis, illness acceptance

Abstract

Background

The study aimed to identify significant predictors of illness acceptance in women with endometriosis. As potential predictive factors, variables related to the disease (pain frequency, co-morbid infertility, diagnostic delay, years of living with the diagnosis), demographic variables (age, place of residence, education, income, the fact of having children) and psychological variables (pain coping strategies) were taken into account.

Participants and procedure

The study participants – 247 women with endometriosis – were recruited in Poland in medical facilities from 6 large voivodship cities and through a patients’ association. The participants filled in the following questionnaires: the Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS), Endometriosis Health Profile-30 (EHP-30), and the Coping Strategies Questionnaire (CSQ). The data were analysed with the method of stepwise hierarchical regression.

Results

The final significant model explained 24% of the variance of the AIS score. The model consisted of the following variables: pain frequency, reinterpreting pain sensations, pain catastrophizing and praying/hoping. Only two variables were significant predictors in this model: pain frequency and pain catastrophizing. Years with diagnosis, age, diagnostic delay, place of residence, education, income, and the fact of having children were not significant.

Conclusions

The interventions addressed to patients should support their acceptance of chronic pain and help them to develop adaptive pain coping strategies. Due to the co-morbidity of endometriosis-related pain and depression the inclusion of antidepressant pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy based on cognitive techniques is recommended.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Andysz, A., Jacukowicz, A., Merecz-Kot, D., & Najder, A. (2018). Endometriosis – the challenge for occupational life of diagnosed women: a review of quantitative studies. Medycyna Pracy, 69, 663–671. https://doi.org/10.13075/mp.5893.00737.

Baczewska, B., Kropornicka, B., Sepioło, J., Krzyżanowska, E., Olszak, C., Szymczuk, E., & Daniluk, J. (2015). Acceptance of illness and satisfaction with life among patients with arterial hypertension. Health Problems of Civilization, 3, 31–38. https:// doi.org/10.5114/hpc.2015.57131.

Baneh, T. A. B., Khomami, H. M., Mirhadian, L., & Atrkarroushan, Z. (2018). The relationship between acceptance of illness and quality of life in mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus. Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International, 25, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.9734/jpri/2018/v25i530110.

Berbic, M., & Fraser, I. S. (2011). Regulatory T cells and other leukocytes in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Journal of Reproductive Immunology, 88, 149–155. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JRI.2010.11.004.

Bień, A., Rzońca, E., Kańczugowska, A., & IwanowiczPalus, G. (2015). Factors affecting the quality of life and the illness acceptance of pregnant women with diabetes. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 13, 68. https://doi. org/10.3390/ijerph13010068.

Bulun, S. E., Cheng, Y. H., Pavone, M. E., Yin, P., Imir, G., Utsunomiya, H., Thung, S., Xue, Q., Marsh, E. E., Tokunaga, H., Ishikawa, H., Kurita, T., & Su, E. J. (2010). 17-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-2 deficiency and progesterone resistance in endometriosis. Seminars in Reproductive Medicine, 28, 44–50. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0029-1242992.

Carey, E. T., Martin, C. E., Siedhoff, M. T., Bair, E. D., & As-Sanie, S. (2014). Biopsychosocial correlates of persistent postsurgical pain in women with endometriosis. International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 124, 169–173. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.ijgo.2013.07.033.

Chan, R. (2012). The effect of acceptance on health outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease. Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation, 28, 11–14. https://doi.org/10.1093/ndt/gfs334.

Cipora, E., Konieczny, M., & Sobieszczański, J. (2018). Acceptance of illness by women with breast cancer. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine, 25, 167–171. https://doi.org/10.26444/aaem/75876.

Czerw, A. I., Bilińska, M., & Deptała, A. (2016a). The assessment of the impact of socio-economic factors in accepting cancer using the Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS). Contemporary Oncology, 20, 261–265. https://doi.org/10.5114/wo.2015.54901.

Czerw, A., Religioni, U., & Deptała, A. (2016b). Assessment of pain, acceptance of illness, adjustment to life with cancer and coping strategies in breast cancer patients. Breast Cancer, 23, 654–661. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12282-015-0620-0.

Czerw, A. I., Religioni, U., Deptała, A., & Fronczak, A. (2017). Pain, acceptance of illness, adjustment to life with cancer and coping strategies in prostate cancer patients. Archives of Medical Science, 13, 1459– 1466. https://doi.org/10.5114/aoms.2016.58458.

Day, M. A., & Thorn, B. E. (2016). The mediating role of pain acceptance during mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for headache. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 25, 51–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.ctim.2016.01.002.

De Boer, M. J., Steinhagen, H. E., Versteegen, G. J., Struys, M. M. R. F., & Sanderman, R. (2014). Mindfulness, acceptance and catastrophizing in chronic pain. PLoS One, 9, e87445. https://doi.org/10.1371/ journal.pone.0087445.

Dembińska, A. (2013). Rola nadziei w pomocy psychologicznej kobietom leczącym niepłodność [The role of hope in psychological help for women treating infertility]. Sztuka Leczenia, 1/2, 9–20.

Denny, E. (2004). Women’s experience of endometriosis. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 46, 641–648. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2004.03055.x.

Esteve, R., Ramírez-Maestre, C., & López-Martínez, A. E. (2007). Adjustment to chronic pain: The role of pain acceptance, coping strategies, and painrelated cognitions. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 33, 179–188. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02879899.

Felton, B. J., Revenson, T. A., & Hinrichsen, G. A. (1984). Stress and coping in the explanation of psychological adjustment among chronically ill adults. Social Science & Medicine, 18, 889–898. https://doi. org/10.1016/0277-9536(84)90158-8.

Ferrero, S., Esposito, F., Abbamonte, L. H., Anserini, P., Remorgida, V., & Ragni, N. (2005). Quality of sex life in women with endometriosis and deep dyspareunia. Fertility and Sterility, 83, 573–579. https:// doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2004.07.973.

Fourquet, J., Gao, X., Zavala, D., Orengo, J. C., Abac, S., Ruiz, A., Laboy, J., & Flores, I. (2010). Patients’ report on how endometriosis affects health, work, and daily life. Fertility and Sterility, 93, 2424–2428. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2009.09.017.

Gao, X., Yeh, Y. C., Outley, J., Simon, J., Botteman, M., & Spalding, J. (2006). Health-related quality of life burden of women with endometriosis: a literature review. Current Medical Research and Opinion, 22, 1787–1797. https://doi.org/10.1185/03007 9906x121084.

Gillanders, D. T., Ferreira, N. B., Bose, S., & Esrich, T. (2013). The relationship between acceptance, catastrophizing and illness representations in chronic pain. European Journal of Pain, 17, 893–902. https:// doi.org/10.1002/j.1532-2149.2012.00248.x.

Grassion, L., Le Guillou, F., Izadifar, A., Piperno, D., & Raherison-Semjen, C. (2019). Factors associated with poor acceptance of illness in patients with COPD. Revue Des Maladies Respiratoires, 36, 461–467. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmr.2018.11.010.

Herrmann, D., Scherg, H., Verres, R., Von Hagens, C., Strowitzki, T., & Wischmann, T. (2011). Resilience in infertile couples acts as a protective factor against infertility-specific distress and impaired quality of life. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, 28, 1111–1117. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-011- 9637-2.

Huntington, A., & Gilmour, J. A. (2005). A life shaped by pain: Women and endometriosis. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 14, 1124–1132. https://doi.org/10.1111/ j.1365-2702.2005.01231.x.

Jankowska-Polańska, B., Blicharska, K., Uchmanowicz, I., & Morisky, D. E. (2016a). The influence of illness acceptance on the adherence to pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapy in patients with hypertension. European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 15, 559–568. https://doi. org/10.1177/1474515115626878.

Jankowska-Polańska, B., Kaczan, A., Lomper, K., Nowakowski, D., & Dudek, K. (2018). Symptoms, acceptance of illness and health-related quality of life in patients with atrial fibrillation. European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 17, 262–272. https://doi. org/10.1177/1474515117733731.

Jankowska-Polańska, B., Kasprzyk, M., Chudiak, A., & Uchmanowicz, I. (2016b). Relation between illness acceptance and quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Advances in Respiratory Medicine, 85, 3–10. https:// doi.org/10.5603/PiAP.a2015.0079.

Janowski, K., Kurpas, D., Kusz, J., Mroczek, B., & Jedynak, T. (2013). Health-related behavior, profile of health locus of control and acceptance of illness in patients suffering from chronic somatic diseases. PLoS One, 8, e63920. https://doi.org/10.1371/ journal.pone.0063920.

Janowski, K., Kurpas, D., Kusz, J., Mroczek, B., & Jedynak, T. (2014). Emotional control, styles of coping with stress and acceptance of illness among patients suffering from chronic somatic diseases. Stress and Health, 30, 34–42. https://doi.org/10.1002/smi.2493.

Jones, G., Jenkinson, C., & Kennedy, S. (2001). The endometriosis health profile user manual. Oxford University Innovation.

Juczyński, Z. (2009). Narzędzia pomiaru w promocji i psychologii zdrowia [Methods in health promotion and health psychology]. Pracownia Testów Psychologicznych PTP.

Keffe, F. J., Rumble, M. E., Scipio, C. D., Giordano, L. A., & Perri, L. M. (2004). Psychological aspects of persistent pain: current state of the science. The Journal of Pain, 5, 195–211. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.jpain.2004.02.576.

Kitajima, M., Defrère, S., Dolmans, M., & Colette, S. (2011). Endometriomas as a possible cause of reduced ovarian reserve in women with endometriosis. Fertility and Sterility, 96, 685–691. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2011.06.064.

Kratz, A. L., Murphy, J. F., Kalpakjian, C. Z., & Chen, P. (2018). Medicate or meditate? Greater pain acceptance is related to lower pain medication use in persons with chronic pain and spinal cord injury. The Clinical Journal of Pain, 34, 357–365. https:// doi.org/10.1097/AJP.0000000000000550.

Król, J., Szcześniak, M., Koziarska, D., & Rzepa, T. (2015). Time perception and illness acceptance among remitting-relapsing multiple sclerosis patients under treatment. Psychiatria Polska, 49, 911–920. https://doi.org/10.12740/PP/38740.

Lami, M. J., Martínez, M. P., Miró, E., Sánchez, A. I., & Guzmán, M. A. (2018). Catastrophizing, acceptance, and coping as mediators between pain and emotional distress and disability in fibromyalgia. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 25, 80–92. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-018-9543-1.

Lorençatto, C., Petta, C. A., Navarro, M. J., Bahamondes, L., & Matos, A. (2006). Depression in women with endometriosis with and without chronic pelvic pain. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, 85, 88–92. https://doi. org/10.1080/00016340500456118.

Lundeberg, T., & Lund, I. (2008). Is there a role for acupuncture in endometriosis pain, or ‘endometrialgia’? Acupuncture in Medicine, 26, 94–110. https:// doi.org/10.1136/aim.26.2.94.

Martynow, A., Lefek, K., Wierzbicka, B., Chudiak, A., Lomper, K., & Jankowska-Polańska, B. (2017). Effect of acceptance of illness on treatment adherence in atrial fibrillation patients. Journal of Education, Health and Sport, 7, 154–170. https://doi.org/10.5281/ zenodo.573092.

McCarthy, M. P. (2008). Women’s lived experience of infertility after unsuccessful medical intervention. Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health, 53, 319– 324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmwh.2007.11.004.

Milewski, R., Milewska, A., & Czarnecki, J. (2013). Analiza profilu demograficznego pacjentów leczonych z powodu niepłodności metodami rozrodu wspomaganego w latach 2005-2010 [Analysis of the demographic profile of patients treated for infertility using assisted reproductive techniques in 2005-2010]. Ginekologia Polska, 84, 610–614. https://doi.org/10.17772/gp/1612.

Mon Khine, Y., Taniguchi, F., & Harada, T. (2016). Clinical management of endometriosis-associated infertility. Reproductive Medicine and Biology, 15, 217–225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12522-016-0237-9.

Mroczek, B., Parzuchowska, K., Jasińska-Starczewska, M., Grodzki, T., & Kurpas, D. (2017). Relationships between quality of life in the psychological domain, acceptance of illness, and healthcare services in patients with asthma. In M. Pokorski (Ed.), Influenza and Respiratory Care. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology (Vol. 968, pp. 49–60). Springer.

Mroczek, B., Sitko, Z., Augustyniuk, K., Pierzak-Sominka, J., Wróblewska, I., & Kurpas, D. (2015). Socioeconomic indicators shaping quality of life and illness acceptance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 861, 19–30. https:// doi.org/10.1007/5584_2015_136.

Nnoaham, K. E., Hummelshoj, L., Webster, P., D’Hooghe, T., de Cicco Nardone, F., de Cicco Nardone, C., Jenkinson, C., Kennedy, S. H., & Zondervan, K. T. (2011). Impact of endometriosis on quality of life and work productivity: a multicenter study across ten countries. Fertility and Sterility, 96, 366–373.e8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert. 2011.05.090.

Obiego, M., Siennicka, A., Jankowska, E. A., & Danel, D. P. (2017). Direction of the relationship between acceptance of illness and health-related quality of life in chronic heart failure patients. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 32, 348–356. https:// doi.org/10.1097/JCN.0000000000000365.

Oxholm, D., Knudsen, U. B., Kryger-Baggesen, N., & Ravn, P. (2007). Postmenopausal endometriosis. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, 86, 1158–1164. https://doi.org/10.1080/000163407 01619407.

Ozkan, S., Murk, W., & Arici, A. (2008). Endometriosis and infertility: Epidemiology and evidence-based treatments. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1127, 92–100. https://doi.org/10.1196/annals.1434.007.

Qiu, C., Zhang, X., Zang, X., & Zhao, Y. (2019). Acceptance of illness mediate the effects of health literacy on self-management behaviour. European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 19, 411–420. https://doi. org/10.1177/1474515119885240.

Quartana, P. J., Campbell, C. M., & Edwards, R. R. (2009). Pain catastrophizing: a critical review. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 9, 745–758. https://doi. org/10.1586/ern.09.34.

Richardson, E. J., Ness, T. J., Doleys, D. M., Baños, J. H., Cianfrini, L., & Scott Richards, J. (2009). Depressive symptoms and pain evaluations among persons with chronic pain: Catastrophizing, but not pain acceptance, shows significant effects. Pain, 147, 147–152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pain.2009.08.030.

Rode, D., & Rode, M. (2018). The relationship between self-esteem, sense of self-efficacy and level of illness acceptance, and healthful behaviours in patients with long-term illnesses (type II diabetes, Hashimoto’s disease). Health Psychology Report, 6, 158–170. https://doi.org/10.5114/hpr.2018.71635.

Rogon, I., Kasprzak, Z., & Szcześniak, Ł. (2017). Perceived quality of life and acceptance of illness in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Przegląd Menopauzalny, 16, 79–85. https://doi.org/10.5114/pm. 2017.70583.

Rosińczuk, J., & Kołtuniuk, A. (2017). The influence of depression, level of functioning in everyday life, and illness acceptance on quality of life in patients with Parkinson’s disease: a preliminary study. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 13, 881–887. https://doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S132757.

Rzońca, E., Iwanowicz-Palus, G., & Bień, A. (2018). Generalized self-efficacy, dispositional optimism, and illness acceptance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15, 2484. https:// doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15112484.

Selçuk, İ., & Bozdağ, G. (2013). Recurrence of endometriosis; risk factors, mechanisms and biomarkers; review of the literature. Journal of the Turkish German Gynecological Association, 14, 98–103. https:// doi.org/10.5152/jtgga.2013.52385.

Sharpe, L., & Curran, L. (2006). Understanding the process of adjustment to illness. Social Science and Medicine, 62, 1153–1166. https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.socscimed.2005.07.010.

Somigliana, E., Ragni, G., Benedetti, F., Borroni, R., Vegetti, W., & Crosignani, P. G. (2003). Does laparoscopic excision of endometriotic ovarian cysts significantly affect ovarian reserve? Insights from IVF cycles. Human Reproduction, 18, 2450–2453. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/deg432.

Stratton, P., & Berkley, K. J. (2010). Chronic pelvic pain and endometriosis: Translational evidence of the relationship and implications. Human Reproduction Update, 17, 327–346. https://doi.org/10.1093/ humupd/dmq050.

Sullivan, M. J. L., Thorn, B., Haythornthwaite, J. A., Keefe, F., Martin, M., Bradley, L. A., & Lefebvre, J. C. (2001). Theoretical perspectives on the relation between catastrophizing and pain. The Clinical Journal of Pain, 17, 52–64. https://doi.org/10.1097/00002508- 200103000-00008.

Trompetter, H. R., Bohlmeijer, E. T., Fox, J. P., & Schreurs, K. M. G. (2015). Psychological flexibility and catastrophizing as associated change mechanisms during online Acceptance & Commitment Therapy for chronic pain. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 74, 50–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.brat.2015.09.001.

Turner, J. A., Anderson, M. L., Balderson, B. H., Cook, A. J., Sherman, K. J., & Cherkin, D. C. (2016). Mindfulness-based stress reduction and cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic low back pain: Similar effects on mindfulness, catastrophizing, self-efficacy, and acceptance in a randomized controlled trial. Pain, 157, 2434–2444. https://doi. org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000635.

Uchmanowicz, I., Jankowska-Polańska, B., Motowidlo, U., Uchmanowicz, B., & Chabowski, M. (2016). Assessment of illness acceptance by patients with COPD and the prevalence of depression and anxiety in COPD. International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, 11, 963–970. https:// doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S102754.

Valdes, A. M., Warner, S. C., Harvey, H. L., Fernandes, G. S., Doherty, S., Jenkins, W., Wheeler, M., & Doherty, M. (2015). Use of prescription analgesic medication and pain catastrophizing after total joint replacement surgery. Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism, 45, 150–155. https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.semarthrit.2015.05.004.

Vowles, K. E., McCracken, L. M., McLeod, C., & Eccleston, C. (2008). The Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire: Confirmatory factor analysis and identification of patient subgroups. Pain, 140, 284–291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pain.2008.08.012.

Walsh, T., LeBlanc, L., & McGrath, P. (2003). Menstrual pain intensity, coping, and disability: The role of pain catastrophizing. Pain Medicine, 4, 352–361. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1526-4637.2003. 03039.x.

Wright, D., Hoang, M., Sofine, A., Silva, J. P., & Schwarzkopf, R. (2017). Pain catastrophizing as a predictor for postoperative pain and opiate consumption in total joint arthroplasty patients. Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, 137, 1623–1629. https:// doi.org/10.1007/s00402-017-2812-x.

Zalewska, A., Miniszewska, J., Chodkiewicz, J., & Narbutt, J. (2007). Acceptance of chronic illness in psoriasis vulgaris patients. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 21, 235– 242. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-3083.2006.01912.x.

Zarbo, C., Brugnera, A., Frigerio, L., Malandrino, C., Rabboni, M., Bondi, E., & Compare, A. (2018). Behavioral, cognitive, and emotional coping strategies of women with endometriosis: a critical narrative review. Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 21, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-017-0779-9.

Downloads

Published

2021-06-09

How to Cite

Andysz, A. ., & Merecz-Kot, D. (2021). Predictors of illness acceptance in women with endometriosis. Health Psychology Report, 9(3), 240–251. Retrieved from https://czasopisma.bg.ug.edu.pl/index.php/HPR/article/view/5810