Investigating the Mediating Role of Health Perception between Life Events and Stress Management with Health Status in Military Pateints with Irritable Bowel Syndrome:A Structural Equation Model Approach

Gastroentrology is a dominant medical study in military forces. Stress is found in the nature of military jobs and it is an important factor in irritable bowel syndrome. This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of health perception between life events and stress management with health status in military pateints with irritable bowel syndrome: A structural equation model approach

Methods and Materials: 

The population of the study was all patients with irritable bowel syndrome who were refered to Sajad clinic between the years of 2020 to 2021. The sample of study was 229 persons who were selected through purposeful sampling method and they were diagnosed based on ROME-IV criteria. Research tools included the Bringsen Salutogenic Health Indicators Scale, Epstein Stress Management Questionnaire, Adams the Perceived Wellness, and Sarason life event inventory. Data were analysed using mean, standard deviation, and regression correlation through SPSS software version 20. Moreover, structural equation model approach was used by LISREL software version 8.

This study showed that the structural model of health status based on stress management and life events mediated by health perception in military patients with IBS have desired goodness of fit. (RMSEA=0.08, NNFI =0.92 ، NFI= 0.90, IFI=0.90 ،CFI= 0.91 ، X2/DF=2.97). Analysis of direct path showed that stress management hase a direct, positive and significant effect on health status (t= 2.753, ß=0.17). The impact of life events on health status was direct, significant and negative (t= -2.31, ß= -42.0). On indirect path the health perception mediated role between stress management and life events with health status was significant at the level of 0.05 and standard coefficient (0.11-0.13)

Considering the role of stress management, life events and health perception on health status, it is recommended that proper training can be provided on stress management, life events control; improve health perception training to increase the abilities of promoting health status in military patients with IBS.