Biopsychosocial Coping and Adjustment of Adult Female Irritable Bowel Syndrome Patients

Abstract

This study describes the biopsychosocial coping and adjustment of adult female Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) patients in managed health care. The non-probability convenience sample consisted of 36 adult women aged between 18 and 60 years, recruited at a managed health care facility in the Nelson Mandela Metropole, and who volunteered to become part of this study. A biographical questionnaire and two paperand-pencil measures were used to collect the data. The Coping Resources Inventory (CRI) was used to identify the coping resources used by the participants and the Personal, Home, Social and Formal Relations Questionnaire (PHSF), was used as a measure of biopsychosocial adjustment. The biographical questionnaire screened important demographic information essential for the contextual interpretation of results. Descriptive statistics and correlation coefficients were used in the data analysis. The sample perceived themselves as having slightly lower than average levels of coping resources as well as slightly below-average levels of adjustment. Social resources were more readily relied on as a means of coping, and superior adjustment was also indicated in terms of interpersonal and social functioning. A positive correlation was found between patients' coping resources and their adjustment.

Psychological adjustment and autonomic disturbances in inflammatory bowel diseases and irritable bowel syndrome

“…As observed in IBD, IBS patients exhibited a coping behaviour in accordance with their emotional adjustment as IBS + patients presented higher problem-focused coping and social support searching scores than IBS -. This agrees with the fact that IBS women based their coping more on social resources and less on personal resources (Fouché et al, 2006).…”

The impact of gastrointestinal conditions on psychosocial factors associated with the biopsychosocial model of health: A scoping review

“…Of the studies included in the final analysis, 18 per cent ( n = 12) addressed coping strategies (see Table 2), specifically maladaptive strategies used in IBS (Fouché et al, 2006; Knowles et al, 2017; Sugawara et al, 2017), IBD (Chao et al, 2019; Luo et al, 2018; McCombie et al, 2015; Parekh et al, 2015; Vigano et al, 2016) and across both conditions (Bengtsson et al, 2013; Crane & Martin, 2004; Jones et al, 2006). Crane and Martin (2004) observed that the use of emotional passive coping, a maladaptive strategy inclusive of behaviours such as inactivity, immobility and decreased responsiveness (Bandler et al, 2000), was associated with an increased risk of developing anxiety and/or depression.…”

“…Social support (inclusive of relationships, support network, isolation and loneliness) was addressed in 32 per cent ( n = 22) of studies (see Table 2), yet findings were not conclusive as to whether social support leads to positive or negative outcomes for those with GI conditions. Positive outcomes of social support among those with a GI condition were reported in seven of these 22 studies (see Table 2), including its use as a positive coping strategy by those with IBS (Fouché et al, 2006) and IBD (García‐Sanjuán et al, 2018), improved resilience of those with IBD (Dai et al, 2021), decreased depression among individuals with IBD (Fuller‐Thomson & Sulman, 2006) and promoted QOL for those with IBS (Nguyen et al, 2018) and IBD (Oliveira et al, 2007). Positive outcomes are also reported when social support is received online (Coulson, 2005).…”

“…Similarly, Sugawara et al (2017) revealed that IBS patients who adopt avoidance and suppression coping strategies often experience depressive thoughts. Positive coping strategies included social strategies such as sharing feelings (Larsson et al, 2017) and reliance on social support (Fouché et al, 2006).…”

“…In line with Engel's (1977) BPS model of health, this scoping review highlighted the interconnected nature of factors implicated in GI conditions. Social support and coping are interconnected (Fouché et al, 2006) and are instrumental in how individuals deal with their condition and well‐being outcomes (Oliveira et al, 2007; Sugawara et al, 2017). A limited number of studies employed qualitative methods and a phenomenological approach to directly investigate the lived experiences of those with a GI condition.…”