Educational achievement and pain disability among women with chronic pelvic pain

Objective: This study examined the relationship of level of educational (LOE) achievement to pain experience, affective disturbance, and perceived disability among women with chronic pelvic pain presenting for pain treatment. Methods: 187 patients completed a battery of self-report inventories assessing pain, psychological status, and functional ability. Educational attainment was stratified across five levels from less than high school to graduate/professional school. Results: Significant inverse associations were found between lower educational achievement and more severe pain, somatic preoccupation, emotional suffering and guardedness, and functional impairment. No differences were obtained across the groups for age, duration of pain, or symptoms of depression. Conclusions: These data provide support for the importance of socioeconomic factors, particularly LOE, in furthering our understanding of the morbidity observed among women suffering chronic pelvic pain. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.