Prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms and their association with psychological problems in youths

Tingwei Liu; Jun Liu; Cong Wang; Deli Zou; Chunmei Wang; Tianchao Xu; Yihong Ci; Xiaozhong Guo; Xingshun Qi

doi:10.21037/apm-22-1316

Prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms and their association with psychological problems in youths

Ann Palliat Med. 2023 Mar;12(2):311-323. doi: 10.21037/apm-22-1316.

Authors

Tingwei Liu¹, Jun Liu², Cong Wang³, Deli Zou⁴, Chunmei Wang⁵, Tianchao Xu⁶, Yihong Ci⁶, Xiaozhong Guo⁴, Xingshun Qi¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Gastroenterology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China; Graduate School, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, China.
² Military Joint Teaching and Research Office, the 32684 Troop of Chinese PLA, Shenyang, China.
³ School of Nursing, Panjin Vocational and Technical College, Panjin, China.
⁴ Department of Gastroenterology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China.
⁵ Department of Gastroenterology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China; Department of Gastroenterology, General Hospital of Fuxin Mining Industry Group of Liaoning Health Industry Group, Fuxin, China.
⁶ Department of Psychology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China.

PMID: 37019640
DOI: 10.21037/apm-22-1316

Abstract

Background: Gastrointestinal symptoms and psychological problems are common in youths, which can negatively affect their lives on physical, mental, and social levels. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms in youths and further explore their association with psychological problems.

Methods: Self-reported data on gastrointestinal symptoms and psychological problems in 692 sophomores who majored in education in a high vocational school and 310 recruits who were undergoing basic training in an army in China were retrospectively collected. The self-reported data included demographics, gastrointestinal symptoms, and Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90) used for the assessment of psychological problems. Gastrointestinal symptoms surveyed included nausea, emesis, abdominal pain, acid regurgitation, eructation, heartburn, anorexia, abdominal bloating, diarrhea, constipation, hematemesis, and hematochezia. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the independent risk factors associated with gastrointestinal symptoms. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated.

Results: The prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms was 36.7% (n=254) and 15.5% (n=48) in the sophomores and recruits, respectively. Participants with gastrointestinal symptoms had a significantly higher prevalence of total SCL-90 score beyond 160 than those without gastrointestinal symptoms in both sophomores (19.7% vs. 3.2%, P<0.001) and recruits (10.4% vs. 1.1%, P<0.001). Total SCL-90 score beyond 160 was independently associated with gastrointestinal symptoms in both sophomores (OR =5.467; 95% CI: 2.855-10.470; P<0.001) and recruits (OR =6.734; 95% CI: 1.226-36.999; P=0.028).

Conclusions: Gastrointestinal symptoms may be common and strongly associated with psychological problems in youths. Prospective studies should be required to explore the impact of the correction of psychological problems on the improvement of gastrointestinal symptoms.

Keywords: Gastrointestinal symptom; Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90); psychological problem; recruit; sophomore.

MeSH terms

Abdominal Pain* / diagnosis
Abdominal Pain* / epidemiology
Adolescent
Cross-Sectional Studies
Humans
Prevalence
Prospective Studies
Retrospective Studies