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Exploring Quality of Life, Stress, and Risk Factors Associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome for Female University Students in Taiwan

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  • Huan-Hwa Chen

    (School of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, No. 100, Shih-Chuan 1st Road, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
    School of Nursing, Chung Hwa University of Medical Technology, No. 34, Wenhua 1st St., Tainan 717, Taiwan)

  • Chich-Hsiu Hung

    (School of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, No. 100, Shih-Chuan 1st Road, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
    Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, No. 100, Tzyou 1st Road, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan)

  • Ai-Wen Kao

    (Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, No. 138, Shengli Road, Tainan 704, Taiwan)

  • Hsiu-Fen Hsieh

    (School of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, No. 100, Shih-Chuan 1st Road, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
    Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, No. 100, Tzyou 1st Road, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan)

Abstract

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common recurrent functional gastrointestinal disorder that impacts on patients physically and mentally. Studies on IBS have focused on adults, yet few studies have examined IBS among female university students. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of IBS for female university students and its related factors. Using a cross-sectional study design, a total of 2520 female university students were recruited in southern Taiwan. The structured questionnaires, including the Rome III IBS diagnostic questionnaire, IBS symptom severity scale, Perceived Stress Scale, and World Health Organization Quality of Life BREF questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF) were used for data collection. A total of 1894 female students complete the questionnaires. The response rate was 75.15%. The results indicated 193 female students with IBS and the prevalence of IBS was 10.1%. IBS female students had higher levels of stress and lower QOL than non-IBS female students. The risk factors for female university students developing IBS were dysmenorrhea, food avoidance, class absenteeism, and the lower physical domain of QOL. It is advised to consider these factors when providing students with counselling and relevant services in the expectation of alleviating their IBS symptoms, reducing the incidence rate of IBS, and further improving their QOL.

Suggested Citation

  • Huan-Hwa Chen & Chich-Hsiu Hung & Ai-Wen Kao & Hsiu-Fen Hsieh, 2021. "Exploring Quality of Life, Stress, and Risk Factors Associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome for Female University Students in Taiwan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-13, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:8:p:3888-:d:531908
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jun Tayama & Naoki Nakaya & Toyohiro Hamaguchi & Tatsuo Saigo & Atsushi Takeoka & Toshimasa Sone & Shin Fukudo & Susumu Shirabe, 2015. "Maladjustment to Academic Life and Employment Anxiety in University Students with Irritable Bowel Syndrome," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(6), pages 1-10, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Haixia Wang & Xiqian Zou & Kaisheng Lai & Weiping Luo & Lingnan He, 2021. "Does Quality of Life Act as a Protective Factor against Believing Health Rumors? Evidence from a National Cross-Sectional Survey in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-10, April.

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