e-space
Manchester Metropolitan University's Research Repository

    “The most lonely condition I can imagine”: psychosocial impacts of endometriosis on women’s identity

    Cole, Jennifer ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3054-9438, Grogan, Sarah ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7510-765X and Turley, Emma (2021) “The most lonely condition I can imagine”: psychosocial impacts of endometriosis on women’s identity. Feminism and Psychology, 31 (2). pp. 171-191. ISSN 0959-3535

    [img]
    Preview
    Published Version
    Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial.

    Download (415kB) | Preview

    Abstract

    Endometriosis is a condition which affects around 1-2 % of women worldwide and has profound effects on their everyday lives. Previous research has tended to focus on physical symptoms (such as chronic pain); how women manage changes to their identity and relationships as a result of endometriosis has received less attention. This paper discusses qualitative data examining how women negotiate changes to identity while living with endometriosis, in a social context where women are expected to minimise their symptoms and conform to feminine role expectations. We conducted thematic analysis of 34 replies to an online survey seeking qualitative text responses. The women identified disruptions to personal identity as a result of living with endometriosis. They talked about not feeling like themselves (Theme 1) and about reactions from medical and social connections prompting feelings that they were going “mad” (Theme 2). Participants also expressed feeling as though they were a burden to loved ones (Theme 3) which often resulted in self-silencing (Theme 4). Findings are discussed in the context of Western expectations of women’s roles in social relationships and suggest that professionals who support women with endometriosis should be aware of strategies such as self-silencing which may reduce effective self-care.

    Impact and Reach

    Statistics

    Activity Overview
    6 month trend
    344Downloads
    6 month trend
    218Hits

    Additional statistics for this dataset are available via IRStats2.

    Altmetric

    Repository staff only

    Edit record Edit record