Risk Factors for Chronic Pain in Women: The Role of Violence Exposure in a Case–Control Study

Background: Chronic pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience that greatly affects functioning and well-being. Studies link chronic pain and violence against women, with an odds ratio of 2.08 and a 26% prevalence rate. The bio-psycho-social consequences reduce quality of life and cause...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Allison Uvelli, Erica Pugliese, Fabio Ferretti
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Life
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/6/976
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849431307310858240
author Allison Uvelli
Erica Pugliese
Fabio Ferretti
author_facet Allison Uvelli
Erica Pugliese
Fabio Ferretti
author_sort Allison Uvelli
collection DOAJ
description Background: Chronic pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience that greatly affects functioning and well-being. Studies link chronic pain and violence against women, with an odds ratio of 2.08 and a 26% prevalence rate. The bio-psycho-social consequences reduce quality of life and cause disability. Despite extensive research, the etiology remains unclear. This study investigates the bio-psycho-social risk factors of chronic pain in women, both victims and non-victims of violence. Methods: A case–control study (December 2023–June 2024) used odds ratios and Fisher’s exact test to explore risk factors associated with chronic pain. Univariate logistic regressions identified significant predictors. Results: The study included 170 women (68 victims), half with chronic pain. Nine risk factors were specific to victims (three biological, six psycho-social), four to non-victims (two biological, two psycho-social), and twenty-three to all women (five biological, eighteen psycho-social). A four-factor model best explained risk in victims and all women, while a two-factor model fit non-victims. Conclusions: The bio-psycho-social model of chronic pain is supported, identifying specific risk factors. These findings can aid anti-violence and healthcare professionals in screening and early intervention.
format Article
id doaj-art-cf5f9cee79c04abcb69556b1234a45bd
institution Kabale University
issn 2075-1729
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Life
spelling doaj-art-cf5f9cee79c04abcb69556b1234a45bd2025-08-20T03:27:40ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292025-06-0115697610.3390/life15060976Risk Factors for Chronic Pain in Women: The Role of Violence Exposure in a Case–Control StudyAllison Uvelli0Erica Pugliese1Fabio Ferretti2Department of Medical Science, Surgery, and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, ItalyDepartment of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam, 1012 WS Amsterdam, The NetherlandsDepartment of Medical Science, Surgery, and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, ItalyBackground: Chronic pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience that greatly affects functioning and well-being. Studies link chronic pain and violence against women, with an odds ratio of 2.08 and a 26% prevalence rate. The bio-psycho-social consequences reduce quality of life and cause disability. Despite extensive research, the etiology remains unclear. This study investigates the bio-psycho-social risk factors of chronic pain in women, both victims and non-victims of violence. Methods: A case–control study (December 2023–June 2024) used odds ratios and Fisher’s exact test to explore risk factors associated with chronic pain. Univariate logistic regressions identified significant predictors. Results: The study included 170 women (68 victims), half with chronic pain. Nine risk factors were specific to victims (three biological, six psycho-social), four to non-victims (two biological, two psycho-social), and twenty-three to all women (five biological, eighteen psycho-social). A four-factor model best explained risk in victims and all women, while a two-factor model fit non-victims. Conclusions: The bio-psycho-social model of chronic pain is supported, identifying specific risk factors. These findings can aid anti-violence and healthcare professionals in screening and early intervention.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/6/976gender violencechronic painrisk factorscase–control studyodds ratio
spellingShingle Allison Uvelli
Erica Pugliese
Fabio Ferretti
Risk Factors for Chronic Pain in Women: The Role of Violence Exposure in a Case–Control Study
Life
gender violence
chronic pain
risk factors
case–control study
odds ratio
title Risk Factors for Chronic Pain in Women: The Role of Violence Exposure in a Case–Control Study
title_full Risk Factors for Chronic Pain in Women: The Role of Violence Exposure in a Case–Control Study
title_fullStr Risk Factors for Chronic Pain in Women: The Role of Violence Exposure in a Case–Control Study
title_full_unstemmed Risk Factors for Chronic Pain in Women: The Role of Violence Exposure in a Case–Control Study
title_short Risk Factors for Chronic Pain in Women: The Role of Violence Exposure in a Case–Control Study
title_sort risk factors for chronic pain in women the role of violence exposure in a case control study
topic gender violence
chronic pain
risk factors
case–control study
odds ratio
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/6/976
work_keys_str_mv AT allisonuvelli riskfactorsforchronicpaininwomentheroleofviolenceexposureinacasecontrolstudy
AT ericapugliese riskfactorsforchronicpaininwomentheroleofviolenceexposureinacasecontrolstudy
AT fabioferretti riskfactorsforchronicpaininwomentheroleofviolenceexposureinacasecontrolstudy