The sense of coherence, social support and quality of life among patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

Introduction: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of chronic digestive system conditions which significantly influence the everyday life of patients. Exhausting intestinal discomfort might cause a strong feeling of distress and lowers the quality of life. This study was based on the question: how are the sense of coherence, social support, socio-demographic variables and the duration of disease related to the quality of life of individuals suffering from IBD?Materials and methods: Thirty-nine individuals suffering from IBD were examined: 21 with ulcerative colitis, 17 with Crohn’s disease and 1 with microscopic colitis. The participants completed a socio-demographic survey, and Life Orientation Questionnaire (SOC-29) and Berlin Social Support Scales (BSSS) questionnaires. The quality of life was examined by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Gastric (FACT-Ga) questionnaire.Results: The overall rate of the sense of coherence with its components and the available instrumental and emotional support was found to be significantly connected to the patients’ quality of life. The level of education differentiated the examined patients in terms of the quality of life.Conclusions: Psychological resources can play a significant role in the assessment of the impact of chronic disease on patients’ everyday life. It is important to focus on their importance in raising the quality of life of the patients.