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Illness perceptions among patients with IBD directly influenced anxiety, depression, family functioning
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Symptoms of anxiety and depression, along with relationship and family functioning, were directly impacted by illness perceptions among patients with inflammatory bowel disease in a recent study.
Researchers evaluated the responses of 74 patients with IBD (mean age, 38 years; 82.4% women) to an online survey. Participants’ perceptions of their illness were recorded using the 9-item Brief Illness Perceptions Questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Sexual Problems and Sexual Satisfaction scales, Marital and Family Functioning scales and the Body Image and Self-Consciousness During Intimacy (BISC) Scale. All participants were in romantic relationships for a mean of 9.9 years.
Positive correlations were observed between patients’ illness perceptions and indications of depression and anxiety, along with sexual problems and BISC. A negative correlation was observed between participants’ illness perception and sexual satisfaction. Using exploratory Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) which excluded nonsignificant variables, investigators developed a model with an excellent fit (x2[25]=27.84; P=.32; x2/N=1.11, CFI >0.99, RMSEA<0.04, SRMR<0.07, GFI>0.93) that accounted for variance of 69% for family functioning, 52% each for depression and sexual satisfaction, 37% for sexual problems, 31% for marital functioning, 30% for anxiety and 16% for BISC.
Participants’ perceptions of their illness directly influenced depression (B=0.72; P<.001), anxiety (B=0.55; P<.001) and family functioning (B=–0.17; P<.05). Investigators said female sex directly increased sexual problems and satisfaction; gender was the only variable in the final model.
“While this study was limited by possible sample bias (eg, gender imbalance and Internet self-selection), our findings are consistent with past research indicating that depression and anxiety do impact sexual health and body image,” the researchers wrote. “In turn, sexual health and body image impacted upon marital and family functioning.
“The current study’s findings further support the call … that health professionals need to assess for the impact of IBD on sexual health, body image and marital and family functioning, especially if individuals are female and/or experience psychological distress.”
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