Reproductive Health and Midwifery Department, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Social Security Organization, East Azerbaijan Treatment Management, Tabriz, Iran.
J Med Life. 2023 Feb;16(2):220-226. doi: 10.25122/jml-2022-0234.
Despite the prominent role of cognitive-affective variables, such as pain catastrophizing and anxiety in chronic pain, little is known about their relationship with dyspareunia. This study compared pain-catastrophizing and anxiety in reproductive-aged women with and without dyspareunia. A controlled cross-sectional study was conducted on 398 married women in Iran selected by convenience sampling. Sampling was performed both online and in person. Data were collected using a checklist designed for the study, including background characteristics, self-reported dyspareunia, and two standard questionnaires: the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) and the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-6 (STAI-6). Results showed that 49.5% of the women reported dyspareunia in the previous six months, with a reduced figure of 42% and 31% when using more specific criteria for dyspareunia. Women with dyspareunia had significantly higher scores for pain catastrophizing and anxiety than the control group without dyspareunia. Pain-catastrophizing was associated with aversion to genital contact and body image dissatisfaction. Anxiety was correlated with age, marriage duration, and sexual abuse. Managing anxiety and catastrophizing thoughts may help dyspareunia patients better cope with pain.
尽管认知情感变量（如疼痛灾难化和焦虑）在慢性疼痛中起着重要作用，但它们与性交困难的关系却知之甚少。本研究比较了有和没有性交困难的育龄妇女的疼痛灾难化和焦虑程度。一项对照性横断面研究在伊朗对 398 名已婚妇女进行了研究，采用便利抽样法选取样本。抽样既在线上进行，也在线下进行。数据收集采用为研究设计的检查表，包括背景特征、自我报告的性交困难以及两个标准问卷：疼痛灾难化量表（PCS）和斯皮尔伯格状态-特质焦虑量表-6（STAI-6）。结果显示，49.5%的妇女在过去六个月中有性交困难，当使用更具体的性交困难标准时，这一数字分别降至 42%和 31%。与没有性交困难的对照组相比，有性交困难的妇女在疼痛灾难化和焦虑方面的得分明显更高。疼痛灾难化与对生殖器接触的反感和身体形象不满有关。焦虑与年龄、婚姻持续时间和性虐待有关。管理焦虑和灾难化思维可能有助于性交困难患者更好地应对疼痛。
