Depressive symptoms as a mediator in the association between regular physical activity and irritable bowel syndrome-related symptom severity: a cross-sectional study among college students.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder, substantially affecting quality of life among young adults. Although regular physical activity (RPA) benefits both mental and gastrointestinal health, its potential psychological mechanisms in IBS-related symptom severity remain unclear. This study was designed to examine the association between RPA and IBS-related symptom severity among Chinese college students and to clarify the mediating roles of depressive symptoms.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 872 students from three universities in Shandong Province, China. Data on demographics, RPA, anxiety and depression assessed by the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), and IBS-related symptom severity evaluated using the Irritable Bowel Syndrome Severity Scoring System (IBS-SSS) and the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) were collected. Group comparisons, multiple regression, and mediation analyses were performed.
Comparisons between students engaging in RPA and their sedentary peers revealed significantly lower IBS-SSS and GSRS scores in the RPA group. Consistent with these observations, multiple linear regression indicated that RPA was inversely associated with IBS-SSS [β = -28.665, 95% CI: (-40.129, -17.201), p < 0.01] and GSRS [β = -3.538, 95% CI: (-5.740, -1.335), p < 0.01] scores. In addition, higher SAS and SDS scores were positively associated with IBS-SSS and GSRS scores (all p < 0.001). Mediation analysis showed an estimated indirect association between RPA and IBS-SSS scores through depressive symptoms (p < 0.001), with a mediation proportion of 19.43%.
These findings indicate that RPA is associated with reduced IBS-related symptom severity, and that depressive symptoms statistically account for part of this association, highlighting the importance of lifestyle strategies integrating physical and psychological interventions for managing IBS-related symptom in young adults.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 872 students from three universities in Shandong Province, China. Data on demographics, RPA, anxiety and depression assessed by the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), and IBS-related symptom severity evaluated using the Irritable Bowel Syndrome Severity Scoring System (IBS-SSS) and the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) were collected. Group comparisons, multiple regression, and mediation analyses were performed.
Comparisons between students engaging in RPA and their sedentary peers revealed significantly lower IBS-SSS and GSRS scores in the RPA group. Consistent with these observations, multiple linear regression indicated that RPA was inversely associated with IBS-SSS [β = -28.665, 95% CI: (-40.129, -17.201), p < 0.01] and GSRS [β = -3.538, 95% CI: (-5.740, -1.335), p < 0.01] scores. In addition, higher SAS and SDS scores were positively associated with IBS-SSS and GSRS scores (all p < 0.001). Mediation analysis showed an estimated indirect association between RPA and IBS-SSS scores through depressive symptoms (p < 0.001), with a mediation proportion of 19.43%.
These findings indicate that RPA is associated with reduced IBS-related symptom severity, and that depressive symptoms statistically account for part of this association, highlighting the importance of lifestyle strategies integrating physical and psychological interventions for managing IBS-related symptom in young adults.
Authors
Sui Sui, Li Li, Yue Yue, Chen Chen, Feng Feng, Li Li, Qi Qi, Hu Hu, Wang Wang, Mei Mei, Qiao Qiao, Ji Ji, Li Li, Zhang Zhang, Ye Ye
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