Date of Conferral

4-22-2025

Date of Award

April 2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Matthew Howren

Abstract

There is a lack of understanding within the psychological and medical communities on the extent to which endometriosis impacts the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of people with endometriosis (PWE). This population is understudied in relation to the effects of endometriosis on HRQoL, the various methods used to treat and cope with endometriosis-related symptoms, the influence of self-managing endometriosis on PWE’s HRQoL, or the HRQoL outcomes associated with using nontraditional methods to self-manage endometriosis. As such, there is a lack of knowledge on the extent to which the use of various types of complementary self-care therapies to self-manage endometriosis is associated with PWE’s HRQoL. The theoretical framework for this study was Orem’s self-care theory. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to analyze correlations between using various types of complementary self-care therapies to self-manage endometriosis and PWE’s HRQoL, as well as PWE’s depressive symptomatology, controlling for sociodemographic variables. The participants comprised 136 individuals with self-reported endometriosis from online endometriosis support groups. Statistical significance for both research questions was found overall. This study can benefit PWE by promoting positive social change through the examination of the use of nontraditional methods in self-managing endometriosis that may be more readily accessible to PWE; help healthcare professionals provide PWE with enhanced support, guidance, and education to improve PWE’s HRQoL; and encourage further research on self-managing endometriosis within the psychological and medical communities.

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