Kinesiophobia in Women with Stress and Mixed Urinary Incontinence: Associations with Severity and Quality of Life Using a Novel Scale

Abstract

Objective: This prospective study explored the connections between kinesiophobia traditionally defined as an irrational fear of movement due to expected pain or harm in chronic conditions, but in this study defined as the avoidance of movement due to fear of urinary incontinence, the severity of urinary incontinence (UI), the severity of urinary incontinence, and UI-related quality of life (QoL) among women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) or mixed urinary incontinence (MUI), utilizing a newly developed UI-specific kinesiophobia scale.

Methods: Between August and November 2024, 55 women aged 18–65 with SUI and MUI were recruited from a urology outpatient clinic. Participants completed the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire–Short Form (ICIQ-SF), Incontinence Quality of Life Questionnaire (I-QOL), and a novel three-item UI-specific kinesiophobia scale. Pearson correlation analysis assessed relationships between kinesiophobia, UI severity, and QoL.

Results: Kinesiophobia showed a moderate positive correlation with UI severity (r = 0.548, p < 0.001) and a moderate negative correlation with QoL (r = –0.447, p = 0.001). Mean scores were 13.82 ± 4.57 for ICIQ-SF, 59.55 ± 20.60 for I-QOL, and 14.09 ± 8.27 for kinesiophobia.

Conclusion: UI severity significantly influences kinesiophobia, which in turn diminishes QoL in women with SUI and MUI. The UI-specific kinesiophobia scale offers a concise tool to measure movement-related fears, emphasizing the importance of holistic interventions, such as pelvic floor therapy and psychological support, to address both physical and emotional challenges in UI management.