Psychological Distress in Women Living with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: The Role of Illness Perceptions.
Abstract
Introduction Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine and metabolic condition linked to increased risk of anxiety and depression (psychological distress). This study examined the relationship between illness perceptions and psychological distress in women living with PCOS. Methods We used a cross-sectional survey to assess psychological distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) and illness perceptions (Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised) in women living with PCOS in the UK (N = 487). Hierarchical multiple linear regression tested the associations between illness perceptions and psychological distress, adjusting for age, years since PCOS diagnosis, education, body mass index, current depression, and current anxiety disorder. Results In the fully adjusted regression model, illness perceptions explained 18.6% of the variance in psychological distress, F(7,458) = 21.0, p Conclusions Illness perceptions may play an important role in psychological distress, even after adjusting for relevant demographics and clinical characteristics. Our findings highlight key areas where researchers and clinicians could develop targeted self-management interventions for women with PCOS, focused on altering maladaptive illness perceptions to reduce psychological burden.
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Those cognitive and affective factors increase diabetes distress.
“Weight stigma impacts cognitive and affective factors such as perceptions of illness threat, including beliefs about diabetes preventability and concern about developing associated symptoms (Hopkins & Bennett, 2018), that in turn increase diabetes distress (e.g., Light et al., 2021) and biomarkers of T2D progression (e.g., glycosylated hemoglobin; Mc Sharry et al., 2011).”
From A Randomized Controlled Trial of an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-Informed Diabetes Prevention Program Reduces Body Shame and Distress. (2025) · cites this paper as Light et al., 2021
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BackgroundInfluential
- Authors
- Light, R. S., Chilcot, J., & McBride, E.
- Affiliations
- University College London (GB)
- King's College London (GB)
- Corresponding author
- McBride, Emily
- Venue
- Women's Health Issues
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2021-03
- Volume
- 31
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 177-184
- ISSN
- 1049-3867 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3095272655
- Cited by
- 33
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 2
- FWCI
- 3.30
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Women s Health Issues (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- University College London
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Ovarian function and disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes Management and Education
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Reproductive Health and Technologies
- Keywords
- polycystic ovary syndrome, psychological distress, illness perception, anxiety, depression, perceived consequences, personal control, illness coherence, symptom reporting, self-management interventions, women's health
- MeSH terms
- Psychological Distress, Adaptation, Psychological, Anxiety, Cross-Sectional Studies, Depression, Female, Humans, Perception, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Surveys and Questionnaires, Stress, Psychological
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