Body image concerns in individuals with endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain conditions: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Carla Sullivan-Myers, Kerry A Sherman, Emily Kopp
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis examined body image concerns in individuals with endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain (CPP) conditions, analyzing 22 studies with 7609 participants. The findings indicated that individuals with CPP had significantly worse body image concerns compared to healthy controls, with a standardized mean difference of g = 0.50.
Key findings
- Individuals with CPP had significantly worse body image concerns compared to healthy controls (g = 0.50, 95% CI [0.30, 0.69], p < .001).
- Psychosocial factors linked to body image included anxiety, depression, loneliness, and sexual dysfunction.
- Body functionality may be a key outcome in the relationship between pain symptoms and body image concerns.
Why it matters
Understanding the prevalence and factors associated with body image concerns in patients with CPP is crucial for clinicians. It highlights the need for comprehensive care that addresses both physical and psychological aspects of these conditions.
What to keep in mind
The quality of many included studies was limited by their cross-sectional design and minimal theoretical interpretation.