The relationship of quality of life with neuroticism, extraversion, conscientiousness, and their subcomponents in patients with irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional bowel disorder characterized by abdominal pain or discomfort and altered bowel habits and can significantly impair quality of life (QOL). Personality has an important effect on health-related quality of life. However, its effect on the quality of life of patients with irritable bowel syndrome is yet unknown. The present study was conducted with the aim of determining the relationship of quality of life with neuroticism, extroversion, conscientiousness, and their subcomponents in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

Methods & Materials:

 This is a descriptive-correlational study. The studied population was IBS patients referred to a private gastrointestinal clinic in Tehran in 2021.The sample size was 223, and subjects were selected through the consecutive sampling method. The data were collected using NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) and the Irritable Bowel Syndrome Quality Of Life (IBS-QOL) questionnaire. To analyze the data, descriptive statistics and regression analysis were used at the confidence level of 95% through the SPSS software version 24.

The mean score of IBS-QOL was 57.68±20.55. Regression analysis suggested that personality subcomponents such as self-reproach (β=-0.376, P<0.001) and positive affect (β=0.160, P=0.020) were the most important predictors of the score of IBS-QOL. The scores of self-reproach and positive affect explained 22.6% of the variance score of IBS-QOL.

The results of current study suggested that the scores of some personality subcomponents including self-reproach and positive affect significantly predict the score of IBS-QOL. Hence, it seems that in addition to common pharmaceutical treatments for IBS patients, considering personality subcomponents (particularly self-reproach and positive affect) is effective in improving these patients’ quality of life.