The Role of Traumatic Childhood Experiences in Predicting Affective Control and Object Relations in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Background :

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of traumatic childhood experiences in predicting emotion regulation and object relations in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

Materials and Methods :

The research method was descriptive-correlational that was performed on 135 patients with irritable bowel syndrome, including 58 men and 77 women, who were selected by convenience sampling method from those referred to the gastroenterologist. Participants completed the childhood trauma, emotion regulation, and Object Relations questionnaire. Data were analyzed by Pearson correlation coefficient and simple regression statistical methods.

Results:

 The results of the study showed that the total score of childhood trauma significantly predicts poor emotion regulation in the subscales of depression (P <0.01), and anxiety (P <0.05), as well as the subscales of object relations including egocentrism (P <0.01), alienation (P <0.01), incompetency (P <0.01), and attachment (P <0.05).

Conclusion:

 It can be inferred from the research findings that traumatic childhood experiences, especially emotional experiences, play a decisive role in emotion regulation and object relations of patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the prevention and treatment programs of these patients.