Case-control study, 2009
How common is irritable bowel syndrome in Korean teenage girls and what causes it?
One in four Korean teenage girls has IBS. Stress, anxiety, and depression were strongly linked to IBS, with depression showing the strongest connection.
What they did
Cross-sectional study of 405 teenage girls from 5 academic high schools in Korea, conducted August-September 2007. Researchers used a questionnaire to diagnose IBS and asked about diet, lifestyle, stress, anxiety, depression, and PMS.
What they found
25.7% of the girls had IBS, higher than rates reported in Western countries. Higher stress, anxiety, and depression were each independently linked to increased IBS. Stress increased IBS odds by 2.25 times, anxiety by 4.27 times, and depression by 10.87 times.
What it means for you
Mental health, especially depression, is strongly linked to IBS in teenage girls. IBS is more common in Korea than the West. Main limitations: self-reported answers, cross-sectional design (cannot prove cause and effect), and only Korean girls.
405
Number of girls studied
25.7%
Prevalence of IBS
10.87
Depression odds ratio for IBS
About the study
- Original title
- Prevalence and risk factors of irritable bowel syndrome in Korean adolescent girls: a school-based study
- Authors
- Son YJ, Jun EY, Park JH
- Journal
- International journal of nursing studies
- Year
- 2009
- Study design
- Case-control study
- Participants
- 405
- What was tested
- None
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2008.07.006
Topics
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