Poor mental health highly related to diarrhea, study suggests

A quarter of students and over 10 percent of parents had moderate to severe symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome symptoms including abdominal pain, bloating and diarrhea, Chinese University researchers have found.

They said the conditions are highly related to negative emotions and poor mental health.

The survey was conducted this April by The Chinese University of Hong Kong’s Faculty of Medicine and the Hong Kong Association of Careers Masters and Guidance Masters, with 232 parents and 324 students ranged from secondary three to six from seven secondary school participating.

The results showed that nearly one-fourth of students and over ten percent of parents were having moderate to severe IBS symptoms, including abdominal pain, bloating and diarrhea. 

Almost half of students and over 20 percent of parents were showing mild to severe depression symptoms, while over 40 percent of students and over 20 percent of parents were showing mild to severe anxiety symptoms. 

The results also displayed that respondents with moderate to severe IBS symptoms have higher levels of depression and anxiety, and those from the same family share similar symptoms of IBS and emotional problems.

“These findings showed that the shared symptoms between the parents and children may be due to their interactions, such as children imitating their parents in coping with stress, and environmental factors, such as when the family facing the same difficulties,” Chan Yawen, a clinical psychologist from CU Medicine, explained.

She advised that other family members should pay attention to whether they have IBS symptoms if one member started displaying them.

Professor Justin Wu Che-yuen from CU Medicine Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology noted that more people are suffering from intestinal illnesses recently.