The C.A.R.E. Study: Coping and Reacting to Endometriosis in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The C.A.R.E. study examined the relationship between psychological distress and pain among women with endometriosis (N=48) during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was hypothesized that poor healthcare factors would be significantly associated with psychological distress. Psychological distress was measured by reported coping strategies, depressive symptoms, mood disturbance, and endometriosis perceived stress. Health behavior changes were also reported by the participants during the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychological distress and pain were influenced by healthcare factors including time to diagnosis, patient-provider relationship, number of doctors, and access to care during the pandemic. Increased pain was significantly correlated with greater depressive symptoms, greater mood disturbance, and greater perceived stress. Effective coping strategies were significantly correlated with decreased depressive symptoms, decreased mood disturbance, and decreased endometriosis perceived stress. Sleep disturbance was the most influential health behavior and was significantly correlated with increased mood disturbance and depressive symptoms. Impact from the COVID-19 pandemic was significantly correlated with increased pain, endometriosis perceived stress, mood disturbance, and depressive symptoms.