Coping with pain in intimate situations: Applying the avoidance-endurance model to women with vulvovaginal pain

Conclusions This study indicates that the strategies women with vulvovaginal pain use for coping with sexual activities are important for the course of pain. Avoidance and, to a lesser degree, endurance strategies were identified as important mediators of the effects of catastrophizing on pain. When exploring the links over time, only avoidance emerged as a significant mediator. Implications In this longitudinal study, catastrophizing was linked to vulvovaginal pain, via avoidance and endurance of sexual activities. Hence, targeting catastrophizing early on in treatment, as well as addressing coping, may be important in clinical interventions.
Source: Scandinavian Journal of Pain - Category: Anesthesiology Source Type: research