Gender differences in coping with musculoskeletal pain

Gender differences in coping with musculoskeletal pain were cross-sectional ly investigated, using questionnaires (Coping Strategies Questionnaire), in 446 Swedish patients (mean age 46 years, 72% women) seeking care for their ailments. Compared to male patients, women reported more disability, a lar ger consumption of analgesics, more work strain, higher levels of posttraum atic stress reactions, a lower self-esteem, and higher scores for the Copin g Strategies Questionnaire indexes: diverting attention, praying/hoping, ca tastrophizing, increased behavioural activity, and pain behaviours. All gen der differences in coping were ruled out in multivariate analyses, except f or the association between the interaction term Gender x Posttraumatic Stre ss Reactions and Catastrophizing. Among women, catastrophizing was positive ly associated with posttraumatic stress reactions, perceived disability, an d the number of previous treatments for pain. No such associations were fou nd among men. Women's poorer capacity to cope with musculoskeletal pain is related to higher level of emotional distress, greater disability, and a hi story of treatments for pain.