Relation between stress and gastrointestinal disorders

Authors

  • Ankita Gurung Department of Clinical Psychology, Santosh Deemed to be University, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
  • Rani Srivastava Department of Clinical Psychology, Santosh Deemed to be University, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
  • Ashok Kumar Department of General Medicine, Santosh Deemed to be University, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
  • Debapriya Department of Clinical Psychology, Santosh Deemed to be University, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20253168

Keywords:

Anxiety, Depression, Gastrointestinal disorders, General health, Illness perception, Somatization, Stress

Abstract

Background: This study investigated psychological influences in gastrointestinal (GI) disorders by analyzing relationships among stress, depression, anxiety, and somatization. Standardized scales were applied with 73 participants, revealing notable associations between stress and physical complaints. Findings highlight the significance of the brain-gut connection and recommend integrative therapeutic approaches. Aim was to evaluate the association between stress levels and general health, somatization, depression, anxiety, and illness perception among patients with gastrointestinal disorders.

Methods: This cross-sectional survey-based research distributed offline questionnaires to patients experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms to assess stress and its associations with general health, somatization, depression, anxiety, and illness perception. Data collection employed four standardized instruments: GHQ-12, SDC, DASS-42, and IPQ-R. Data were processed with Microsoft Excel and SPSS version 23, emphasizing descriptive and inferential methods. Descriptive analysis involved calculating mean and standard deviation for GHQ-12, SDC, DASS-42, and IPQ-R.

Results: Of 73 respondents, SDC showed 6.8% had marked somatic concerns. These findings emphasize the overlap between psychological stress and physical outcomes, as patients with GI symptoms often present emotional struggles through somatic complaints.

Conclusions: Stress was significantly correlated with the somatization disorder checklist (GI).

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Palmer S. Managingstress. London: Routledge; 1989.

Ahmed SM, Hershberger PJ, Lemkau JP. Psychosocial influences on health. In: Rakel RE, Rakel DP, eds. Textbook of Family Medicine. 9th edn. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016.

Franks S. (2023) Critical thinking exercise 1.2: Distress versus Eustress. 2023. Available from: https://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/topss/lessons/activities/critical-thinking-exercise-distress-eustress.pdf. Accessed on 13 May 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/e506042023-001

Psychiatrist Near Me, Psychiatry of the Palm Beaches (2025) General Adaptation Syndrome treatment in Melbourne, FL. Available from: https://www.psychiatryofthepalmbeaches.com/adaptation-syndrome. Accessed on 13 May 2025.

Rothman L. Meet the doctor who changed our understanding of stress. TIME. 2016. Available from: https://time.com/4243311/hans-selye-stress/. Accessed on 13 May 2025.

Edman JS, Greeson JM, Roberts RS, Kaufman AB, Abrams DI, Dolor RJ et al. Perceived stress in patients with common gastrointestinal disorders: associations with quality of life, symptoms and disease management. Explore J Sci Heal. 2017;13(2):124-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2016.12.005

Spigel B, Adeyemo MA. Meta-analysis: do irritable bowel syndrome symptoms vary between men and women? Wiley Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2010;32(6):738-55. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2036.2010.04409.x

Balmus IM, Robea M, Ciobica A, Timofte D. Perceived stress and gastrointestinal habits in college students. Acta Endocrinol. 2019;15(2):274.

Balmus IM, Robea M, Ciobica A, Timofte D. Perceived stress and gastrointestinal habits in college students. Acta Endocrinol. 2019;15(2):274. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4183/aeb.2019.274

Carabotti M, Scirocco A, Maselli MA, Severi C. The gut-brain axis: interactions between enteric microbiota, central and enteric nervous systems. Ann Gastroenterol. 2015;28(2):203-9.

Moloney RD, Johnson AC, O’Mahony SM, Dinan TG, Greenwood-Van Meerveld B, Cryan JF. (2016). Stress and the microbiota-gut-brain axis in visceral pain: relevance to irritable bowel syndrome. CNS Neurosci Ther. 201622(2):102-17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/cns.12490

Fond G, Loundou A, Hamdani N, Boukouaci W, Dargel A, Oliveira J, et al. Anxiety and depression comorbidities in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur Arch Psychiatr Clin Neurosci. 2014;264(8):651-60. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-014-0502-z

Ford AC, Lacy BE, Talley NJ. Irritable bowel syndrome. N Engl J Med. 2017;376(26):2566-78. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra1607547

Mayer EA, Labus JS, Tillisch K, Cole SW, Baldi P. Towards a systems view of IBS. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2015;12(10):592-605. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2015.121

Konturek PC, Brzozowski T, Konturek SJ. Stress and the gut: pathophysiology, clinical consequences, diagnostic approach and treatment options. J Physiol Pharmacol. 2011;62(6):591-9.

Goldberg D, Williams P. A user’s guide to the General Health Questionnaire. Windsor, UK: NFER-Nelson. 1988.

Lovibond SH, Lovibond PF. Manual for the depression, Anxiety stress Scale. 2nd edn. Sydney: Psycology Foundation; 1995. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/t01004-000

Weinman J, Petrie JK. Manual for Illness Perception Questionnaire. King’s College London. 1996. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/t60768-000

Van Tilburg MA, Spence NJ, Whitehead WE, Bangdiwala S, Goldston DB. Chronic pain in adolescents is associated with somatic amplification, anxiety, and depression. J Pediatr Psychol. 2010;35(5):570-7.

Henningsen P, Zimmermann T, Sattel H. (2003). Medically unexplained physical symptoms, anxiety, and depression: a meta-analytic review. Psychosom Med. 2003;65(4):528-33. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/01.PSY.0000075977.90337.E7

Selye H. A syndrome produced by diverse nocuous agents. Nature. 1936;138(3479):32. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/138032a0

Konturek PC, Brzozowski T, Konturek SJ. Stress and the gut: Pathophysiology, clinical consequences, diagnostic approach and treatment options. J Physiol Pharmacol. 2011;62(6):591-9.

Dawoodi S, Dawoodi M, Dixit P. Gastrointestinal problem among Indian adults: Evidence from Longitudinal Aging Study in India 2017-18. Front Public Health. 2022;10:911354. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.911354

Talley NJ, Boyce PM, Koloski NA. Impact of functional gastrointestinal disorders on health-related quality of life: a population-based case‑control study. Gut. 2004;53(11):1496-501.

Downloads

Published

2025-09-29

How to Cite

Gurung, A., Srivastava, R., Kumar, A., & Debapriya. (2025). Relation between stress and gastrointestinal disorders. International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 13(10), 4217–4222. https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20253168

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles