The Role of Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies and Perceived Social Support in Predicting Quality of Life and Severity of Symptoms of Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder which is highly influenced by psychological factors. The present research was carried out with the aim of determining the role of cognitive emotion regulation strategies and perceived social support in predicting quality of life and severity of symptoms of patients with IBS.

This research is a descriptive one in correlation studies frame. Out of the patients with IBS who referred to a gastroenterology clinic in Tehran in the second half of 1396, 110 ones (74 women and 36 men) were selected through convenience sampling method. Research tools included Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ), IBS specific QOL questionnaire (IBS-QOL-34), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and IBS Severity Index (IBSSI). The analysis of data was carried out through Pearson correlation method and stepwise regression analysis test using SPSS.

Findings revealed that there is a significant relationship between cognitive emotion regulation strategies and perceived social support with quality of life and severity of symptoms of patients with IBS (p<0/01). With the increase in positive strategies of cognitive emotion regulation and perceived social support in patients, the severity of symptoms of IBS decreased and their quality of life increased. Also, among the variables studied in the regression, the best predictor for the severity of symptoms of IBS had been cognitive emotion regulation strategies and for quality of life had been perceived social support (p<0/01).

Cognitive emotion regulation and perceived social support have a significant role in symptom severity and quality of life of patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Thus, consideration of psychological factors in treatment and improvement of quality of life of these patients can be beneficial.