Examining interactions of illness perceptions, avoidance behavior and patient status in predicting quality of life among people with irritable bowel syndrome
Abstract
Background: Illness perceptions (IPs) and avoidance behavior both predict quality of life (QoL) in people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This study examined whether the effects of IPs on QoL are mediated by avoidance behaviors, and whether this mediation is moderated by participant treatment-seeking status.
Methods: People with self-reported IBS (n = 253) answered a survey assessing QoL, IPs, avoidance behaviors, and treatment-seeking status. Moderated-mediation analyses investigated the paths from IPs through avoidance behaviors to QoL, with treatment-seeking status entered as a moderator.
Results: The final moderated mediation model included the IPs consequences, timeline and emotional representations as independent variables and avoidance behavior and depressive reactions as mediators. This model explained 68.6% of the variance in QoL. Among treatment-seeking participants five significant mediation effects were found, whereas only one significant mediation effect was found among participants who did not report seeking treatment.
Conclusions: IPs seem to drive avoidant behavioral responses to IBS symptoms, which in turn predict reductions in QoL. These relationships seem more pronounced among people who seek treatment for their symptoms. In practice, health care practitioners might help improve the QoL of people with IBS by preventing or remedying the development of negative IPs and avoidance behaviors.
Main Authors
Format
Articles
Research article
Published
2024
Series
Subjects
Publication in research information system
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
The permanent address of the publication
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:jyu-202403252615Use this for linking
Review status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
2164-2850
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/21642850.2024.2311986
Language
English
Published in
Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine
Citation
- Ekholm, M., Krouwels, M., & Knittle, K. (2024). Examining interactions of illness perceptions, avoidance behavior and patient status in predicting quality of life among people with irritable bowel syndrome. Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine, 12(1), Article 2311986. https://doi.org/10.1080/21642850.2024.2311986
Funder(s)
Research Council of Finland
Funding program(s)
Academy Project, AoF
Akatemiahanke, SA

Additional information about funding
This research was funded by Signe and Ane Gyllenberg Foundation (Grant #5125) and MEs contributions were additionally supported by the Academy of Finland (Grant #350723).
Copyright© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group