The role of attachment styles, quality of object relations and ego strength in predicting irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common functional gastrointestinal disorders that psychological factors play an important role in its development and exacerbation. This study aimed to investigate the role of attachment styles, the quality of object relations and ego strength in predicting IBS. This analytical case-control study was performed on all patients with IBS referred to Kashan Shahid Beheshti Hospital from January to December 2013. In this study, 150 patients with IBS and 150 matched healthy people (the relatives of patients) were selected using convenience sampling. To collect data, different questionnaires including demographic, object relations, adult attachment and ego strength questionnaires were used. The results of the study showed that there was a significant positive correlation between the ambivalent insecure attachment style and IBS as well as a negative correlation between the ego strength and IBS. Also, there was no significant correlation between the secure attachment styles, avoidant insecure attachment style and object relations with IBS. Logistic regression analysis showed that the ego strength and ambivalent insecure attachment style were the predictors of IBS. Besides the biological and genetic factors involved in IBS, ambivalent insecure attachment style and ego strength can be a psycho-social predictors of this syndrome.