“In health and sickness”: the psychological distress of partners of women with a diagnosis of Endometriosis. The Project PRENDOTE.

Background: The mental health of partners of women with Endometriosis has been poorly investigated. We aimed to explore the psychological distress of partners of women with Endometriosis - as compared with partners of healthy women - and examine its relationship with sociodemographic, clinical, and relational factors. Method: Fourteen partners of women with a diagnosis of endometriosis (P-EN) and 31 partners of healthy women (P-CG) participated in the study. They completed a sociodemographic and clinical form and reported the impact of Endometriosis on their own lives. Moreover, they completed a battery of instruments to assess psychological distress (CORE-10), material and emotional burden due to caregiving (Zarit Burden Interview; ZBI), and romantic attachment style (Experience in Close Relationship-12 item version; ECR-12). Statistical analyses included the Mann-Whitney U test, chi-squared test, Pearson and Spearman correlation, and stepwise linear regression. Results: 25% of the P-EN group reported a mild burden due to caregiving. When compared to P-CG, the P-EN reported a higher CORE-10 score (p = 0.029). In addition, the P-EN group showed a higher frequency of both psychological distress (75% vs 35.5%; χ² 5.43; p= 0.020) and individual chronic diseases (28.6% vs 6.5%; χ² 4.08; p= 0.043) than the P-CG. Psychological distress was significantly associated with endometriosis’ impact on their own work-life (r = 0.68) and financial status (r = 0.69), as well as with ECR-12 anxiety (r= 0.42). Interestingly, psychological distress was not associated with sociodemographic data and their physical condition, nor with ECR-12 avoidance score. Finally, ECR-12 Anxiety had a positive effect on the CORE-10 score (β 0.48; p = < 0.001), independently of the belonging group (Adjusted R2= 0.37; p = < 0.001). Discussion: Partners of women with Endometriosis reported psychological distress, significantly associated with insecure attachment style and the perceived impact of the women’s disease on their own lives. This population should be targeted by the multidisciplinary team to reduce the psychological impact of the women’s diagnosis in their lives. Significant attention should be paid to the relational factors that may contribute to the onset and maintenance of psychological distress.