Understanding chronic pain on the gender spectrum: gender role expectations and the pandemic

Abstract

Chronic pain is a major health problem, afflicting one in four Canadians, with more women living with chronic pain. The study aims at documenting the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic among individuals living with chronic pain depending on gender and at exploring gender role expectations of pain in relation to pain interference. Participants (N = 49) filled out questionnaires before, during and after the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, documenting their loneliness, distress, pandemic-related restrictions, pain and gender role expectations of pain. It was expected that women would be more affected by the pandemic. Results (p > .05) do not indicate gender differences, nor associations between gender role expectations and pain interference. Further research is needed to broaden our knowledge regarding gender differences in chronic pain and to address health inequalities.