The relationship between multisensory sensitivity and pain interference in adolescents with menstrual pain: the mediating roles of pain catastrophizing and fatigue
Abstract
Importance: Among adolescent girls, primary dysmenorrhea (ie, menstrual pain without an identified underlying pathology) has been linked to heightened sensitivity to non-painful stimuli (eg, light, touch, sound, etc.) and future widespread pain. However, less is known about how multisensory sensitivity (MSS) is related to menstrual and non-menstrual pain interference, or which cognitive and psychophysiological factors contribute to these associations.
Objective: This study examined the relationships between MSS and menstrual and non-menstrual pain interference, and whether pain catastrophizing or fatigue mediated these relationships.
Design, Setting, and Participants: One hundred thirty-eight female adolescents (mean age = 17.2, SD = 1.9) with varying levels of menstrual pain and no other chronic pain completed validated measures of menstrual and non-menstrual pain interference, MSS, pain catastrophizing, and fatigue. Cross-sectional mediation analyses were performed using the PROCESS macro in SPSS, controlling for corresponding pain severity ratings.
Main Outcomes and Measures: MSS, pain interference, and fatigue were assessed using the Sensory Hypersensitivity Scale and the PROMIS Pain Interference and Fatigue scales, respectively. Menstrual and non-menstrual pain severity were assessed using Numeric Rating Scales of 0-10.
Results: Multisensory sensitivity was associated with greater pain catastrophizing and fatigue, which, in turn, contributed to greater non-menstrual pain interference (combined indirect effect = 1.80, 95% CI, 0.81-3.10]). There was no direct effect of MSS on menstrual pain interference (b = −0.20, 95% CI, −0.69 to 0.29).
Conclusions and Relevance: These findings enhance our understanding of the cognitive and psychophysiological factors linking MSS and non-menstrual pain interference in adolescents with varying levels of menstrual pain severity. Our findings highlight the early functional impact of MSS, pain catastrophizing, and fatigue and an opportunity for earlier identification and intervention in an at-risk population.
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BibTeX
@article{voss2026relationship,
title = {{The relationship between multisensory sensitivity and pain interference in adolescents with menstrual pain: the mediating roles of pain catastrophizing and fatigue}},
author = {Stephanie Voss and Jenna M Wilson and Laura C Seidman and Laura A Payne},
journal = {Pain Medicine: The Official Journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1093/pm/pnag081},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/pm/pnag081},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - The relationship between multisensory sensitivity and pain interference in adolescents with menstrual pain: the mediating roles of pain catastrophizing and fatigue
AU - Stephanie Voss
AU - Jenna M Wilson
AU - Laura C Seidman
AU - Laura A Payne
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/06
JO - Pain Medicine: The Official Journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine
DO - 10.1093/pm/pnag081
UR - https://doi.org/10.1093/pm/pnag081
AB - Importance: Among adolescent girls, primary dysmenorrhea (ie, menstrual pain without an identified underlying pathology) has been linked to heightened sensitivity to non-painful stimuli (eg, light, touch, sound, etc.) and future widespread pain. However, less is known about how multisensory sensitivity (MSS) is related to menstrual and non-menstrual pain interference, or which cognitive and psychophysiological factors contribute to these associations. Objective: This study examined the relationships between MSS and menstrual and non-menstrual pain interference, and whether pain catastrophizing or fatigue mediated these relationships. Design, Setting, and Participants: One hundred thirty-eight female adolescents (mean age = 17.2, SD = 1.9) with varying levels of menstrual pain and no other chronic pain completed validated measures of menstrual and non-menstrual pain interference, MSS, pain catastrophizing, and fatigue. Cross-sectional mediation analyses were performed using the PROCESS macro in SPSS, controlling for corresponding pain severity ratings. Main Outcomes and Measures: MSS, pain interference, and fatigue were assessed using the Sensory Hypersensitivity Scale and the PROMIS Pain Interference and Fatigue scales, respectively. Menstrual and non-menstrual pain severity were assessed using Numeric Rating Scales of 0-10. Results: Multisensory sensitivity was associated with greater pain catastrophizing and fatigue, which, in turn, contributed to greater non-menstrual pain interference (combined indirect effect = 1.80, 95% CI, 0.81-3.10]). There was no direct effect of MSS on menstrual pain interference (b = −0.20, 95% CI, −0.69 to 0.29). Conclusions and Relevance: These findings enhance our understanding of the cognitive and psychophysiological factors linking MSS and non-menstrual pain interference in adolescents with varying levels of menstrual pain severity. Our findings highlight the early functional impact of MSS, pain catastrophizing, and fatigue and an opportunity for earlier identification and intervention in an at-risk population.
SN - 1526-2375
SN - 1526-4637
ER -