Examining the mediational role of psychological flexibility, pain catastrophizing, and visceral sensitivity in the relationship between psychological distress, irritable bowel symptom frequency, and quality of life

The aim of the current study was to use Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to examine whether psychological flexibility (i.e. mindfulness, acceptance, valued-living) mediates the relationship between distress, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptom frequency, and quality of life (QoL). Ninety-two i...

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Published inPsychology, health & medicine Vol. 23; no. 10; pp. 1168 - 1181
Main Authors Cassar, G. E., Knowles, S., Youssef, G. J., Moulding, R., Uiterwijk, D., Waters, L., Austin, D. W.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England Taylor & Francis 01.12.2018
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Subjects
Acceptance
Catastrophic reactions
Cognition
Irritable bowel syndrome
Mindfulness
Pain
Psychological distress
Psychological flexibility
Quality of life
psychological flexibility
quality of life
psychological distress
Irritable bowel syndrome
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Summary:The aim of the current study was to use Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to examine whether psychological flexibility (i.e. mindfulness, acceptance, valued-living) mediates the relationship between distress, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptom frequency, and quality of life (QoL). Ninety-two individuals participated in the study (12 male, 80 female, M age  = 36.24) by completing an online survey including measures of visceral sensitivity, distress, IBS-related QoL, mindfulness, bowel symptoms, pain catastrophizing, acceptance, and valued-living. A final model with excellent fit was identified. Psychological distress significantly and directly predicted pain catastrophizing, valued-living, and IBS symptom frequency. Pain catastrophizing directly predicted visceral sensitivity and acceptance, while visceral sensitivity significantly and directly predicted IBS symptom frequency and QoL. Symptom frequency also had a direct and significant relationship with QoL. The current findings suggest that interventions designed to address unhelpful cognitive processes related to visceral sensitivity, pain catastrophizing, and psychological distress may be of most benefit to IBS-related QoL.
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content type line 23
ISSN:1354-8506
1465-3966
DOI:10.1080/13548506.2018.1476722