The Association Between Personality Traits and Irritable Bowel Syndrome—Insights From an Exploratory Cohort Study
Sylvester R. Groen, Zsa Zsa R. M. Weerts, Lisa Vork, Zlatan Mujagic, Carsten Leue, Sandra Mulkens, Joanna W. Kruimel, Ad A. M. Masclee, Daisy M. A. E. Jonkers, Daniel KeszthelyiABSTRACT
Background
Evidence suggests psychological factors including personality traits can have impact on the development and course of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and associated health‐related quality of life (HrQoL), with large individual heterogeneity. Main aim of this study was to examine between‐persons associations and within‐sample concurrent associations of the personality traits neuroticism, extraversion, conscientiousness, openness and agreeableness with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, psychological factors and HrQoL in IBS‐patients.
Methods
Cross‐sectional data from an observational IBS‐study ( n = 194, mean age 51.36 years, 74.4% female) was used. Patients completed the Big Five Inventory (BFI)‐44 questionnaire regarding personality traits, and questionnaires on symptom severity (GSRS‐IBS), general anxiety (HADS‐A, GAD‐7), GI‐specific anxiety (VSI), and HrQoL (36‐SF). A multivariable regression model and a network correlation analysis were performed.
Key Results
Neuroticism showed the most relevant between‐persons associations, confirmed by within‐sample concurrent associations: associated with increased GI‐specific anxiety ( B 7.234, p = 0.040), general anxiety ( B 0.954, p = 0.040), and decreased mental HrQoL ( B —3.576, p = 0.007). Extraversion showed an opposing pattern including increased mental HrQoL ( B = 4.266, p = 0.001), with strong association to neuroticism. While no significant between‐person associations emerged between abdominal pain and personality traits, significantly associated to higher general anxiety ( B = 6.304, p < 0.001) and GI‐specific anxiety ( B = 0.034, p < 0.001) were shown.
Conclusion
This study reinforces the association between personality traits and IBS, highlighting the integral connection to not only other psychological factors but also GI‐symptoms. These findings support a multifactorial, personalized approach to IBS, advocating for the integration of personality assessment—particularly neuroticism and extraversion—into the biopsychosocial model.