Learning to cope with the reality of endometriosis: A mixed-methods analysis of psychological therapy in women with endometriosis

Charlotte Dowding, Antonina Mikocka‐Walus, David Skvarc, Melissa O’Shea, Lisa Olive, Subhadra Evans
British journal of health psychology · 2024 · vol. 29(3) , pp. 644–661 · doi:10.1111/bjhp.12718 · PMID:38467518 · W4392713591
article OA: hybrid CC0 ⤵ 10 in-corpus citations
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⚙ AI-generated summary by gemini-2.5-flash-lite, 2026-06-07 ⓘ

This mixed-methods study identified demographic and clinical predictors of psychological therapy engagement and found that women seek support to adjust to the multi-faceted psychological effects of endometriosis and its pain.

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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Despite the need and uptake of mental health support by women with endometriosis, no research to date has explored their experience of psychological therapy. We aimed to understand the factors that predict engagement in psychological therapy by Australian women with endometriosis and to qualitative explore their experience of psychological support. DESIGN: Mixed-methods design. METHODS: A total of 200 women with self-reported endometriosis were recruited from the community. We explored; (1) the demographic and clinical predictors of engagement in psychological therapy, (2) the psychological approaches that seem most valuable to women in the management of endometriosis and (3) their experience engaging in psychological therapy for endometriosis. RESULTS: Nearly half of women reported to have seen a psychologist within the past year, particularly for pain. Younger age (OR, .94; 95% CI, .886-.993), depressive symptoms (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.002-1.099), and working part time compared to full time (OR, 2.17, 95% CI, 1.012-4.668), increased the likelihood of engaging in psychological therapy. Template thematic analysis identified three themes; (1) endometriosis and pain have multi-faceted psychological effects, (2) psychological support is sought to adjust and live with endometriosis and (3) there are helpful and unhelpful psychological tools for women with endometriosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the use of psychological therapy in the management of endometriosis, and the need for psychological therapy to acknowledge the chronicity and impact of symptoms, to enlist multidisciplinary support and to consider alternative options. Further advocacy is required to educate women on the benefits of psychological therapy for endometriosis.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Adaptation, Psychological Adaptation, Psychological Adaptation, Psychological Adaptation, Psychological Adaptation, Psychological Adaptation, Psychological Adaptation, Psychological Adaptation, Psychological Adaptation, Psychological Adaptation, Psychological Adaptation, Psychological Adaptation, Psychological Adaptation, Psychological Adaptation, Psychological Adaptation, Psychological Adaptation, Psychological Adaptation, Psychological Adaptation, Psychological Adaptation, Psychological Adaptation, Psychological

Citation neighborhood (2-hop)

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. Outer rings show 2-hop neighbours — papers reached through the immediate citers/citees. [ collapse to 1-hop ]

References (67)

Cited by (13)

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europepmc
last seen: 2026-09-26T06:15:21.694264+00:00
openalex
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pubmed
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License: CC0 · commercial use OK