The current study examined the relationship between pelvic-floor dysfunction (PFMD), body mass index (BMI), quality of life (QoL), and health values to assess whether BMI and health values mediated and moderated the impact of PFMD symptoms on QoL. A total of 242 adult female patients (mean age = 55) consecutively referred to a hospital for outpatient physiotherapy treatment agreed to participate. They completed questionnaires relating to their PFMD symptoms (Queensland), QoL (EQ5D), health values (Personal Values Questionnaire), and their BMI was calculated. There were negative impacts of PFMD symptoms on QoL. BMI mediated the relationship between PFMD and QoL; higher BMI exacerbated the negative impact of PFMD on QoL. The impact of BMI was moderated by individuals’ sensitivity to health values held to please others. There was no such moderating relationship of internally held health values (although these values did impact the PFMD-BMI relationship). These data suggest that the relationship between PFMD symptoms and QoL is complex, and psychological support, tailored to an individual’s needs, may be helpful in treating this complex and pervasive disorder.
Osborne et al. (Thu,) studied this question.