A mixed-methods investigation of coping, adaptation and health-related quality of life in individuals experiencing endometriosis

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Moore, Chloe and Cogan, Nicola and Williams, Lynn (2026) A mixed-methods investigation of coping, adaptation and health-related quality of life in individuals experiencing endometriosis. Psychology and Health. pp. 1-21. ISSN 0887-0446 (https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2026.2650778)

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Abstract

Objective: The current mixed-methods study aimed to investigate how individuals experiencing endometriosis coped and adapted to their condition, and the extent to which coping predicted health-related quality of life (HRQoL) over time. Methods and measures: We adopted a sequential, mixed-methods design incorporating a two-wave longitudinal survey and semi-structured interviews. In total, 408 participants diagnosed with endometriosis completed the enrolment survey, measuring demographics, clinical factors, and coping with 283 completing the follow-up survey assessing HRQoL a year later. Data was analysed through hierarchical regression analysis. Additionally, 30 semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Quantitative data revealed that avoidant coping strategies and endometriosis-related information-seeking predicted reduced HRQoL, while trust in medical care was protective. Three themes were constructed from the qualitative data: disconnection from the body; balancing boundaries and self-care; and empowered adaptation. Integration of the datasets emphasised the importance of coping for HRQoL and wellbeing, revealing avoidance and positive adaptation as prominently employed coping strategies. Conclusion: The results position coping as an important therapeutic target in endometriosis care, particularly through fostering empowerment and adaptation to support HRQoL.

ORCID iDs

Moore, Chloe, Cogan, Nicola ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0861-5133 and Williams, Lynn ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2735-9219;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)