title: Fear avoidance and pain catastrophizing among women with sexual pain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Among women under 30 years of age, around 20% report recurrent sexual pain. Although the amount of studies investigating sexual pain has increased, little is known about the role of psychosocial factors. The present study used the fear-avoidance model from musculoskeletal pain as a theoretical frame of reference, and examined fear-avoidance beliefs, avoidance behaviors, pain catastrophizing and symptoms of anxiety and depression among women (18-35 years) reporting sexual pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was cross-sectional, based on a sample of 133 women, where 37 women (27.8%) reported sexual pain often or always.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women with pain reported higher levels of fear avoidance and pain catastrophizing as well as depression and anxiety, with fear avoidance and pain catastrophizing reaching similar levels as has been reported in other long-term pain populations. The level of anxiety and depression did not reach clinical levels. Fear-avoidance beliefs and pain catastrophizing were related to sexual pain and to pain intensity in the regression analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data are in line with, and give further support to, a fear-avoidance perspective in female sexual pain, emphasizing the role of fear and avoidance of pain/sex.
authors.affiliation: Center for Health & Medical Psychology, (CHAMP), School of Law, Psychology & Social Work: Psychology, Örebro University, Sweden.
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thomtén
authors.forename: Rebecka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lundahl
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stigenberg
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Linton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D058443:Catastrophization; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D004414:Dyspareunia / Q000523:psychology*; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: anxiety; depression; fear avoidance; pain catastrophizing; sexual pain; women