Comparison of Personality Traits and Quality of Life between Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Normal Individuals

Irritable bowel syndrome is a functional disorder of the gastrointestinal system which has been identified with specific gastrointestinal symptoms with no organic cause. Therefore, this study aimed to compare quality of life and personality traits in patients with irritable bowel syndrome and non-infected individuals.
The research method was causal-comparative. The sample include of 60 participants (30 patients with IBS and 30 non-infected individuals). The sample was selected by convenience sampling method and responded to NEO Five-Factor Inventory and The World Health Organization's WHOQOL-BREF quality of life.
Data analysis by using statistical analysis, multivariate analysis of variance showed that neuroticism and conscientiousness and conscientiousness in patients with irritable bowel syndrome are more than normal individuals and extroversion, agreeableness and openness to experience are less than non-infected individuals. The level of physical health, mental health, social relationships, environment / conditions of life of patients was less than non-infected individuals.
Based on the findings of this study can be concluded that there is a significant difference between the two groups of patients with irritable bowel syndrome and non-infected individuals regard to personality traits and quality of life. Based on the findings of this study personality traits and quality of life can be used as important indicators to distinguish and predict the vulnerability of developing irritable bowel syndrome.