Positive psychological well‐being: A novel concept for improving symptoms, quality of life, and health behaviors in irritable bowel syndrome

Abstract

Background: Though a growing body of research suggests that greater positive psychological well-being in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may be protective, existing brain-gut behavior therapies primarily target negative psychological factors. Little is known about how positive psychological factors in IBS relate to IBS symptoms, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), or adherence to key health behaviors, such as physical activity and diet modification. Accordingly, per the ORBIT model of behavioral treatment development for chronic diseases, we explored potential connections between psychological constructs and IBS symptoms, health behavior engagement (physical activity and dietary modification), and HRQoL in a qualitative study to inform the development of a novel brain-gut behavior therapy. Methods: Participants with IBS completed self-report assessments and semistructured phone interviews about relationships between positive and negative psychological constructs, IBS symptoms, health behavior engagement, and HRQoL. Key Results: Participants (n = 23; 57% female) ranged in age from 25 to 79 (mean age = 54). IBS subtypes were similarly represented (IBS-diarrhea [n = 8], IBSconstipation [n = 7], and IBS-mixed [n = 8]). Participants described opposing relationships between positive and negative psychological constructs, IBS symptoms, health behavior engagement, and HRQoL, respectively, such that experiencing positive constructs largely mitigated IBS symptoms, boosted health behavior participation, and improved HRQoL, and negative constructs exacerbated symptoms, reduced health behavior participation, and worsened HRQoL. Conclusions and Inferences: Participants with IBS linked greater positive psychological well-being to moderated IBS symptoms and better HRQoL and health behavior participation. An intervention to cultivate greater well-being may be a novel way to mitigate IBS symptoms, boost health behavior participation, and improve HRQoL in IBS.

Mediating effect of gastrointestinal symptoms on dietary behavior and quality of life in Chinese adults with chronic gastritis—a cross-sectional study

“…This group of students showed greater symptom scores (19). Anxiety (20) and dietary behaviors (16,17) were often associated with GI symptoms, and positive psychological wellbeing and health behavior could moderate GI symptoms and result in a better QOL (21). Chinese undergraduate and postgraduate students have a heavier academic burden and poorer ability to regulate emotional and life stress than other groups, which may be the main reason for the lower QOL of these students.…”

The causal effects of leisure screen time on irritable bowel syndrome risk: result from a Mendelian randomization study

“…Previous research have indicated that IBS is related to physical factors [20][21][22][23][24] . Patients with IBS who engage in more physical activity see a reduction in GI symptoms, most likely as a result of an increase in intestinal transit and the absorptive capacity of the gut 25 .…”

“…These factors may affect the pathogenesis of IBS via the brain-gut axis 3,21,35 . In addition, the majority of…”

The causal effects of leisure screen time on irritable bowel syndrome risk from a Mendelian randomization study

“…Effective associations have been reported between screen time and sleep problems, depression, and psychological well-being 34 . These factors may affect the pathogenesis of IBS via the brain-gut axis 3 , 21 , 35 . Regarding the impact of IBS on sedentary behavior, many studies have found that the proportion of physical inactivity in IBS patients is higher, but few studies have determined that IBS is the cause of higher physical inactivity.…”