Abstract
Background:
Primary dysmenorrhea, or menstrual pain, affects up to 90% of women and is a significant cause of functional impairment, absenteeism, and reduced quality of life. Despite its prevalence, dysmenorrhea remains underrepresented in psychological pain research, which has historically prioritised chronic and acute pain conditions. This gap limits understanding of the psychological and behavioural factors shaping pain experiences in women’s episodic pain.
Aims:
This study examined pain coping strategies, psychological factors, and treatment behaviours associated with dysmenorrhea in young women, and assessed how these factors predict pain burden and functional interference.
Methods:
A cross-sectional online survey was completed by 96 women aged 18–25 recruited from two UK universities. Measures assessed dysmenorrhea severity, pain interference, pain catastrophising, pain-related anxiety, pain coping, pain acceptance, and over-the-counter analgesic use. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, frequency analyses, and hierarchical multiple regression.
Results:
Nearly half of the participants reported severe dysmenorrhea, with substantial interference in academic, occupational, and physical activities. While most participants used analgesics, patterns of suboptimal medication use were common. Psychological factors, particularly pain-related anxiety, catastrophising, and coping, significantly predicted dysmenorrhea burden beyond age and employment status.
Conclusions:
The findings highlight that dysmenorrhea is a complex condition with significant psychological and functional effects. Integrating psychological approaches into its management could enhance pain relief and promote women's health equity. This underscores the need for further research using mixed methods and targeted tools. By exploring coping mechanisms, future studies can better understand how young women manage dysmenorrhea, leading to improved interventions for pain management and well-being.
Primary dysmenorrhea, or menstrual pain, affects up to 90% of women and is a significant cause of functional impairment, absenteeism, and reduced quality of life. Despite its prevalence, dysmenorrhea remains underrepresented in psychological pain research, which has historically prioritised chronic and acute pain conditions. This gap limits understanding of the psychological and behavioural factors shaping pain experiences in women’s episodic pain.
Aims:
This study examined pain coping strategies, psychological factors, and treatment behaviours associated with dysmenorrhea in young women, and assessed how these factors predict pain burden and functional interference.
Methods:
A cross-sectional online survey was completed by 96 women aged 18–25 recruited from two UK universities. Measures assessed dysmenorrhea severity, pain interference, pain catastrophising, pain-related anxiety, pain coping, pain acceptance, and over-the-counter analgesic use. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, frequency analyses, and hierarchical multiple regression.
Results:
Nearly half of the participants reported severe dysmenorrhea, with substantial interference in academic, occupational, and physical activities. While most participants used analgesics, patterns of suboptimal medication use were common. Psychological factors, particularly pain-related anxiety, catastrophising, and coping, significantly predicted dysmenorrhea burden beyond age and employment status.
Conclusions:
The findings highlight that dysmenorrhea is a complex condition with significant psychological and functional effects. Integrating psychological approaches into its management could enhance pain relief and promote women's health equity. This underscores the need for further research using mixed methods and targeted tools. By exploring coping mechanisms, future studies can better understand how young women manage dysmenorrhea, leading to improved interventions for pain management and well-being.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Unpublished - 2026 |
| Event | Psychology, Health and Medicine Conference 2026 - Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland , Dublin , Ireland Duration: 24 Apr 2026 → 24 Apr 2026 Conference number: 22 https://www.rcsi.com/dublin/Psychology-Health-and-Medicine-Conference |
Conference
| Conference | Psychology, Health and Medicine Conference 2026 |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | PHM 2026 |
| Country/Territory | Ireland |
| City | Dublin |
| Period | 24/04/26 → 24/04/26 |
| Internet address |
UN SDGs
This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
-
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
Keywords
- PHM
- Dysmenorrhea/therapy
- Undergraduate research
- psychology
- women's health
- Menstrual Pain
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Dysmenorrhea in Young Women: Pain Coping, Psychological Factors, and the Impact on Daily Functioning.'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Cite this
- APA
- Author
- BIBTEX
- Harvard
- Standard
- RIS
- Vancouver