Preoperative Predictors of Pain Following First Trimester Abortion Procedures

Abstract

Psychological factors which predict post-abortion pain were examined. Women at a local abortion clinic were assessed for anxiety, pain self-efficacy, pain catastrophizing and adult romantic attachment prior to their surgery. Pain was assessed using subjective pain ratings and a standard pain assessment measure at different time periods after the abortion procedure. Results showed that state anxiety (r = .48, p = .01) and trait anxiety (r = .47, p = .01) were correlated with higher pain two weeks following the procedure when assessing pain with the standardized measure. Attachment anxiety was correlated to higher pain ratings using both subjective pain ratings (r = .44, p = .01) and the standard pain questionnaire (r = .47, p = .01) at two weeks following the procedure. Additionally, a small portion of the relationship between attachment anxiety and standard pain scale scores was explained by trait anxiety (F (2, 29) =7.10, p<.03). Results support prior research which indicates that certain psychological factors are associated with postoperative pain. Future research should continue to expand on the pain literature to continue the investigation of predictors of pain following voluntary abortion procedures.