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Mechanisms of Quality of Life and Social Support in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

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Abstract

Cognitive and social factors are essential considerations in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patient management, but existing research is limited. This study aims to expand the IBD literature by examining the relationship between social supports and QoL, while examining mechanisms in these relationships. Consenting patients attending an IBD outpatient clinic were provided a survey package (N = 164). Regressions evaluated predictors of IBD-QoL, and catastrophizing and optimism were examined as mediators between social support and IBD-QoL. Diminished IBD-QoL was predicted by younger age, greater negative spousal responses, and less perceived spousal support. Mediation models showed helplessness catastrophizing to be the lone mediator, acting as a mechanism between both negative spousal responses and perceived spousal support with IBD-QoL. Social interaction variables are associated with IBD-QoL, but patients’ experience of helplessness acts to reduce their ability to benefit from social support. Patient care should consider supportive social and cognitive factors to improve IBD-QoL.

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Acknowledgment

Michael Beyak is supported by an award by the Clinical Teaching Association of Queen’s University—Endowment Fund Career Development Award. Stephen Vanner is supported by an operating grant from the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada (CCFC).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada

    Laura Katz

  2. Departments of Psychology, Anesthesiology and Urology, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada

    Dean A. Tripp

  3. Department of Medicine, Gastrointestinal Diseases Research Unit (GIDRU), Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada

    Mark Ropeleski, William Depew, Stephen Vanner & Michael J. Beyak

  4. Department of Urology, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada

    J. Curtis Nickel

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  1. Laura Katz
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Correspondence to Laura Katz.

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Laura Katz, Dean A. Tripp, Mark Ropeleski, William Depew, J. Curtis Nickel, Stephen Vanner and Michael J. Beyak declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000. Informed consent was obtained from all patients for being included in the study.

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Katz, L., Tripp, D.A., Ropeleski, M. et al. Mechanisms of Quality of Life and Social Support in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. J Clin Psychol Med Settings 23, 88–98 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-015-9431-x

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