Can self-compassion and mindfulness predict psychological wellbeing in individuals with endometriosis? Findings from an online survey

Abstract Background Endometriosis presents diagnostic challenges and has profound impacts, encompassing physical and psychological symptoms, relationship difficulties, and disruptions in daily life. The emotional burden is pervasive, intensified by feelings of anxiety, depression, guilt, and shame....

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Federica Facchin, Francesca Grosso, Emanuela Saita, Paolo Vercellini, Francesco Pagnini
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Women's Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-025-03852-7
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849238500535173120
author Federica Facchin
Francesca Grosso
Emanuela Saita
Paolo Vercellini
Francesco Pagnini
author_facet Federica Facchin
Francesca Grosso
Emanuela Saita
Paolo Vercellini
Francesco Pagnini
author_sort Federica Facchin
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Endometriosis presents diagnostic challenges and has profound impacts, encompassing physical and psychological symptoms, relationship difficulties, and disruptions in daily life. The emotional burden is pervasive, intensified by feelings of anxiety, depression, guilt, and shame. Despite extensive exploration of risk factors such as pelvic pain, knowledge about protective factors for mental health in this population is limited. Thus, this study aims to investigate whether self-compassion and mindfulness are associated with enhanced psychological wellbeing in individuals with endometriosis. Methods This cross-sectional study involved 653 participants aged 18 years or older, self-reporting a clinical or surgical diagnosis of endometriosis. Data collection occurred online via Qualtrics from May 11 to August 24, 2022. Sociodemographic and endometriosis-related data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire. Psychological wellbeing, self-compassion, and mindfulness were assessed using validated self-report questionnaires. Results Out of 1,153 survey accesses, 653 participants (75%) provided complete responses and were included. Self-compassion and mindfulness exhibited a positive correlation with psychological wellbeing. In a hierarchical multiple regression model, controlling for confounding factors, both variables significantly increased the explained variance (ΔR 2  = 0.315). However, only the association between psychological wellbeing and self-compassion remained statistically significant. Conclusions Self-compassion emerges as an important protective factor for psychological wellbeing in the context of endometriosis. These findings, coupled with recent studies, emphasize the significance of promoting self-compassion in the psychological treatment of individuals with endometriosis, especially among the young and recently diagnosed.
format Article
id doaj-art-e914fa4d4b8e46f29e5b5fbe3f8d38af
institution Kabale University
issn 1472-6874
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Women's Health
spelling doaj-art-e914fa4d4b8e46f29e5b5fbe3f8d38af2025-08-20T04:01:35ZengBMCBMC Women's Health1472-68742025-07-0125111110.1186/s12905-025-03852-7Can self-compassion and mindfulness predict psychological wellbeing in individuals with endometriosis? Findings from an online surveyFederica Facchin0Francesca Grosso1Emanuela Saita2Paolo Vercellini3Francesco Pagnini4Department of Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred HeartDepartment of Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred HeartDepartment of Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred HeartAcademic Center for Research on Adenomyosis and Endometriosis, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli StudiDepartment of Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred HeartAbstract Background Endometriosis presents diagnostic challenges and has profound impacts, encompassing physical and psychological symptoms, relationship difficulties, and disruptions in daily life. The emotional burden is pervasive, intensified by feelings of anxiety, depression, guilt, and shame. Despite extensive exploration of risk factors such as pelvic pain, knowledge about protective factors for mental health in this population is limited. Thus, this study aims to investigate whether self-compassion and mindfulness are associated with enhanced psychological wellbeing in individuals with endometriosis. Methods This cross-sectional study involved 653 participants aged 18 years or older, self-reporting a clinical or surgical diagnosis of endometriosis. Data collection occurred online via Qualtrics from May 11 to August 24, 2022. Sociodemographic and endometriosis-related data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire. Psychological wellbeing, self-compassion, and mindfulness were assessed using validated self-report questionnaires. Results Out of 1,153 survey accesses, 653 participants (75%) provided complete responses and were included. Self-compassion and mindfulness exhibited a positive correlation with psychological wellbeing. In a hierarchical multiple regression model, controlling for confounding factors, both variables significantly increased the explained variance (ΔR 2  = 0.315). However, only the association between psychological wellbeing and self-compassion remained statistically significant. Conclusions Self-compassion emerges as an important protective factor for psychological wellbeing in the context of endometriosis. These findings, coupled with recent studies, emphasize the significance of promoting self-compassion in the psychological treatment of individuals with endometriosis, especially among the young and recently diagnosed.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-025-03852-7EndometriosisMindfulnessPelvic painPsychological wellbeingSelf-compassion
spellingShingle Federica Facchin
Francesca Grosso
Emanuela Saita
Paolo Vercellini
Francesco Pagnini
Can self-compassion and mindfulness predict psychological wellbeing in individuals with endometriosis? Findings from an online survey
BMC Women's Health
Endometriosis
Mindfulness
Pelvic pain
Psychological wellbeing
Self-compassion
title Can self-compassion and mindfulness predict psychological wellbeing in individuals with endometriosis? Findings from an online survey
title_full Can self-compassion and mindfulness predict psychological wellbeing in individuals with endometriosis? Findings from an online survey
title_fullStr Can self-compassion and mindfulness predict psychological wellbeing in individuals with endometriosis? Findings from an online survey
title_full_unstemmed Can self-compassion and mindfulness predict psychological wellbeing in individuals with endometriosis? Findings from an online survey
title_short Can self-compassion and mindfulness predict psychological wellbeing in individuals with endometriosis? Findings from an online survey
title_sort can self compassion and mindfulness predict psychological wellbeing in individuals with endometriosis findings from an online survey
topic Endometriosis
Mindfulness
Pelvic pain
Psychological wellbeing
Self-compassion
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-025-03852-7
work_keys_str_mv AT federicafacchin canselfcompassionandmindfulnesspredictpsychologicalwellbeinginindividualswithendometriosisfindingsfromanonlinesurvey
AT francescagrosso canselfcompassionandmindfulnesspredictpsychologicalwellbeinginindividualswithendometriosisfindingsfromanonlinesurvey
AT emanuelasaita canselfcompassionandmindfulnesspredictpsychologicalwellbeinginindividualswithendometriosisfindingsfromanonlinesurvey
AT paolovercellini canselfcompassionandmindfulnesspredictpsychologicalwellbeinginindividualswithendometriosisfindingsfromanonlinesurvey
AT francescopagnini canselfcompassionandmindfulnesspredictpsychologicalwellbeinginindividualswithendometriosisfindingsfromanonlinesurvey