The mediating role of intolerance of uncertainty on the relationship between early maladaptive schemas and severity of symptoms in patients with irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the common and chronic functional gastrointestinal disorders that causes a great burden for the patient and the society. Therefore، investigation of psychological variables related to IBS can be useful in understanding، managing and reducing symptom severity in IBS patients. The present study was performed to examine the mediating role of intolerance of uncertainty on the relationship between early maladaptive schemas and severity of symptoms in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. One hundred and eighty patients with irritable bowel syndrome (66 women، 114 men) participated in this study. All patients were asked to complete the IBS Symptom Severity Scale (IBS-SSS)، Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (YSQ-SF) and Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS-12). Results demonstrated that early maladaptive schemas and intolerance of uncertainty had a significant positive association with severity of symptoms. Early maladaptive schemas had a significant positive association with intolerance of uncertainty. Results showed that intolerance of uncertainty did not play a mediating role on the relationship between early maladaptive schemas and severity of IBS symptoms. According to the results of the present study، it can be concluded that early maladaptive schemas and intolerance of uncertainty can predict severity of IBS symptoms. Considering these psychological variables would be helpful in the processes of prevention، diagnosis and treatment of IBS.