Physical and psychosocial factors are crucial for maintaining physical and mental health in endometriosis: a longitudinal analysis

ObjectiveTo test the associations of physical and psychosocial factors with physical and mental health in individuals living with endometriosis (EM) by means of cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses.Methods and MeasuresData were gathered via an online survey between February and August 2021. At survey date t1, sociodemographic, EM-related and psychosocial factors as well as physical and mental health of people with EM were assessed. At survey date t2 three months later, physical and mental health was reassessed. The sample consisted of n_t1 = 723 (30.60 +/- 6.31 years) and n_t2 = 216 (30.56 +/- 6.47 years) cis women with EM. Statistical analyses included bivariate and partial correlation analyses and hierarchical regression analyses.ResultsThe participants' physical health was within the average range and their mental health was below-average at t1 and t2. Cross-sectional analyses revealed that worse health was associated with longer diagnostic delay, more surgeries, greater pelvic pain and lower sense of coherence, self-efficacy, sexual satisfaction and satisfaction with the gynecological treatment. In longitudinal analyses, pelvic pain and participants' satisfaction with the gynecological treatment remained significantly associated with health.ConclusionTreatment should address both pelvic pain and psychosocial factors to improve long-term physical and mental health in EM.