Psychological pain tolerance and its associated factors among hospitalized patients with enterstomy in China: a cross-sectional quantitative study

Background The importance of psychological pain tolerance has been widely acknowledged in global studies, demonstrating its superior predictive validity for suicidal behaviors and quality of life outcomes. As a robust protective factor, enhanced psychological pain tolerance not only mitigates suicide risk but also improves adaptive coping strategies. However, existing research indicates that psychological pain tolerance among hospitalized patients with enterstomy remains underdeveloped. Furthermore, limited studies have examined the psychological pain tolerance and its associated influencing factors among hospitalized patients with enterstomy. Objective To investigate psychological pain tolerance and its associated factors among hospitalized patients with enterstomy in China, thereby establishing an evidence-based foundation for developing individualized nursing interventions to manage psychological distress in enterostomy care. Methods A cross-sectional design was employed, adhering to the quality reporting conformed to the STROBE Checklist. From March 2024 to May 2025, a total of 506 hospitalized patients with enterstomy were recruited from three tertiary grade-A hospitals in China. The Demographic Characteristics Questionnaire, Tolerance for Mental Pain Scale (TMPS), Ostomy Adjustment Inventory (OAI), Stoma Quality of Life (S-QOL), and Stoma Self-care Scale (SSCS) were used. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, univariate, correlation analyses, and multiple linear regression analysis. Results The total score of psychological pain tolerance was 32.18 ± 10.42, psychosocial adaptation was 44.77 ± 18.56, quality of life was 49.18 ± 17.90, and self-care was 33.58 ± 11.42. Psychological pain tolerance was positively correlated with the scores for psychological adaptation ( r = 0.674, p < 0.01), quality of life ( r = 0.542, p < 0.01), and self-care ( r = 0.513, p < 0.01), with positive correlations observed across all dimensions ( r = 0.346–0.644, p < 0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that age, gender, living status, time after enterstomy, psychological adaptation, quality of life, and self-care were the main factors associated with psychological pain tolerance among hospitalized patients with enterstomy, explaining 45.8% of the total variation ( p < 0.05). Conclusion The psychological pain tolerance among hospitalized patients with enterstomy was moderate, which need to be further improved. Age, gender, living status, time after enterstomy, psychological adaptation, quality of life, and self-care were the main associated factors of psychological pain tolerance among hospitalized patients with enterstomy. It is suggested that nursing staff should formulate personalized intervention programs according to the associated factors of psychological pain tolerance among hospitalized patients with enterstomy, so as to improve the quality of life among hospitalized patients with enterstomy.