Investigating the Role of Gastrointestinal-Specific Anxiety and Perceived Disability in the Adjustment to Inflammatory Bowel Disease

In this study, an exploratory model was tested to investigate the mediating role of gastrointestinal-specific anxiety and perceived disability in the relation between disease activity and the outcomes of quality of life and depression in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In a cross-sectional design, data from an online survey of patients with IBD (over the age of 16) recruited through a UK-based IBD charity were used to test a model of serial mediation. Measures targeted disease activity (self-reported), gastrointestinal-specific anxiety (Visceral Sensitivity Index), perceived disability (Perceived Disability Scale), IBD-specific quality of life (UK Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire), and depression (Depression subscale of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale). The theoretical model was investigated using model 6 of the PROCESS macro for SPSS. Bootstrapped 95% confidence intervals were constructed for each estimate A total of 320 participants provided valid responses to the survey. Gastrointestinal-specific anxiety and perceived disability were found to serially mediate the relationship between disease activity and quality of life (95%CI = −0.80 to −0.19) and disease activity and depression (95%CI = 0.13 to 0.59). Findings suggested that the effect of multiple psychosocial variables in the experience of people living with IBD and its respective outcomes should be taken into account when planning treatment. The theoretical and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.