Compensatory bladder behaviors ("coping") in women with overactive bladder

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Overactive bladder (OAB) significantly impacts quality of life.
• Compensatory behaviors, or coping mechanisms, are frequently used by individuals with OAB.
• Limited data exists on the prevalence and psychosocial correlates of OAB coping strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the frequency of compensatory coping behaviors in women with OAB.
• To determine the association between coping behaviors and psychosocial factors in this population.

Main Methods:

• 120 adult women with OAB completed validated questionnaires assessing OAB symptoms, quality of life, anxiety, depression, and stress.
• A "Coping Score" was derived from OAB-q Quality-of-Life items related to compensatory behaviors.
• Linear regression analyses examined associations between coping scores and demographic, clinical, and psychosocial variables.

Main Results:

• 88% of women reported using at least one coping behavior, most commonly "locating the nearest restroom in a new place."
• Higher coping scores were associated with increased BMI, lower education, OAB medication use, urgency incontinence, and urinary symptom severity.
• Anxiety and stress, but not depression, were significantly associated with higher total coping scores, independent of OAB severity.

Conclusions:

• Compensatory bladder behaviors are prevalent among women with OAB.
• These behaviors are linked to greater urinary symptom severity, anxiety, and stress.
• Understanding the interplay between coping strategies and psychosocial factors may reveal opportunities for targeted interventions.