Comparison of the personality characteristics and coping strategies between the patients with irritable bowel syndrome and normal individuals

Background and Aim: Personality and stress are associated with irritable bowel disease. The aim of this study was to compare personality characteristics and coping strategies between the patients with irritable bowel syndrome and normal individuals. Material and Method: In this cross sectional study we selected 200 people (100 irritable bowel syndrome patients and 100 normal individuals) on the basis of convenient method. We used two questionnaires including the NEO- Five Factor personality Inventory and LazarusFolkman coping Questionnaire for data collection. Data were analyzed by t-test and Mannwhitney U Test. Results: The results showed that the mean scores of neuroticism factor in the patients with irritable bowel syndrome were higher than those in the normal individuals. While the mean scores of extraversion and conscientiousness factor in the normal subjects was higher than those in the patients with irritable bowel syndrome. There were no significant differences between the two groups in openness and agreeableness. Data showed that normal individuals compared to the patients with irritable bowel syndrome, used more problem- oriented coping styles. There were no significant differences between the two groups in regard to the escapeavoidance variable. Conclusion: The results showed that IBS was affected by personality characteristics and coping strategies. Study of these factors can have many applications in the fields of research, etiology and treatment of this disease.