The Impact of Sexism and Gender Stereotypes on the Legitimization of Women's Low Back Pain

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Low back pain is the worldwide leading cause of disability and, even though women's pain experience is more severe, frequent, and enduring, female patients are often underdiagnosed and undertreated. Health professionals' gender stereotypes and social norms may underlie the downgrading of pain.

AIM: This pilot study aimed to examine the legitimation of low back pain by health professionals in relation to the sex of the patient as well as their gender awareness and the relationship between them.

METHOD: This study had a cross-sectional design. Eighty health professionals and students selected by convenience answered a 4-part online questionnaire. The eligibility criteria for participants were: aged >18 years, students in the last course of nursing/medicine or a physician/nurse, and Spanish-speaking. The questionnaire comprises: (1) a between-subjects virtual clinical low back pain case with four random versions (female/male patient and evidence/non-evidence of pathology); (2) the Spanish version of Nijmegen Gender Awareness Scale (S-NGAMS); (3) Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (ASI); and (4) Ambivalence toward Men Inventory (AMI).

RESULTS: The total score of legitimation of low back pain correlated negatively with gender role ideology and sexism scales (when the virtual patient was female), as well as the subscales of willingness to offer support and credibility.

CONCLUSIONS: Both sexism and gender role ideology could undermine the legitimation of low back pain, the willingness to offer support, and credibility only in female patients. The results showed a possible gender bias in low back pain assessment in health professionals. Low gender sensitivity and high sexism must be treated as modifiable risk factors for health inequities in pain care.