Maladjustment to Academic Life and Employment Anxiety in University Students with Irritable Bowel Syndrome

The present study tested our hypothesis that university students with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may experience less satisfactory academic lives than those of students without IBS. We also verified the hypothesis that university students with IBS might have higher employment anxiety than students without IBS might.We conducted a cross-sectional study of 1, 686 university students. Presence or absence of IBS was assessed via the Rome III Questionnaire. Two original items were used to evaluate academic life. The prevalence rates of IBS with diarrhea, IBS with constipation, mixed IBS, and unsubtyped IBS in the study population were 5%, 2%, 10%, and 3%, respectively. Regarding academic life, the proportions of participants who experienced maladjustment and employment anxiety were 29% and 50%, respectively. After adjusting for age, sex, and faculty, the odds ratios for maladjustment and employment anxiety were significantly higher in students who screened positively, relative to those who screened negatively, for IBS (OR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.24-2.21; OR, 2.16; 95% CI, 1.68-2.81, respectively). In conclusion, maladjustment and anxiety over future employment were higher in university students with IBS relative to those without

Type A Behavior Pattern and Obesity in Japanese Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Obesity is associated with personality. The Type A behavior pattern (TABP), which is characterized by hostility and competitive behavior, is related to psychological stress. However, the relationship between obesity and the TABP has not been examined. This study aimed to examine the relationship between obesity and the Type A behavior pattern in 3,099 Japanese workers. The Type A behavior pattern was measured via the Maeda Type A Behavior Checklist. Data were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression adjusted for age, being current smokers, heavy drinker, lack of exercise, occupation, and rapid eating. The multivariate odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for obesity associated with TABP was 1.55 (1.13 to 2.13) in men. Regarding other variables, age, lack of exercise, and rapid eating were associated with obesity in men. The multivariate odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for obesity associated with TABP was 1.27 (0.81 to 2.02) in women. Regarding other variables, age andrapid eating were associated with obesity in women. The findings suggest that the Type A behavior pattern was associated with increased obesity prevalence in Japanese men. People with TABP tend to eat larger portions during mealtimes repeatedly by rapid eating; it is possible that eating large portions may lead to an increase weight in men with TABP

Gastrointestinal specific anxiety in irritable bowel syndrome: validation of the Japanese version of the visceral sensitivity index for university students

Objective: The visceral sensitivity index (VSI) is a useful self-report measure of the gastrointestinal symptom-specific anxiety (GSA) of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Previous research has shown that worsening GSA in IBS patients is related to the severity of GI symptoms, suggesting that GSA is an important endpoint for intervention. However, there is currently no Japanese version of the VSI. We therefore translated the VSI into Japanese (VSI-J) and verified its reliability and validity.Material and methods: Participants were 349 university students aged 18 and 19 years and recruited from an academic class. We analyzed data from the VSI-J, Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HAD), and Irritable Bowel Syndrome Severity Index (IBS-SI). The internal consistency, stability, and factor structure of the VSI-J and its associations with anxiety, depression and severity measures were investigated.Results: The factor structure of the VSI-J is unidimensional and similar to that of the original VSI (Cronbach\u27s α = 0.93). Construct validity was demonstrated by significant correlations with ASI (r = 0.43, p < 0.0001), HAD-ANX (r = 0.19, p = 0.0003), and IBS-SI scores (r = 0.45, p < 0.0001). Furthermore, the VSI-J was a significant predictor of severity scores on the IBS-SI and demonstrated good discriminant (p < 0.0001) and incremental (p < 0.0001) validity.Conclusion: These findings suggest that the VSI-J is a reliable and valid measure of visceral sensitivity

Prevention of depression in first-year university students with high harm avoidance

High harm avoidance (HA) scores on the temperament and character inventory appear to be a risk factor for depressive disorders and suicide. Since 2012, we have conducted group cognitive behavioral therapy (G-CBT) interventions for students at Nagasaki University with high HA and without depressive disorders, with the aim of preventing depression. Here, we report on the effects of the G-CBT at 1-year follow-up for the 2012 to 2015 period. Forty-two participants with high HA were included in the final analysis. Outcomes were measured with the Beck Depression Inventory II, Manifest Anxiety Scale, 28-item General Health Questionnaire, and Brief Core Schema Scales at baseline, and at 6-month, and 1-year follow-ups.Repeated-measures analyses of variance revealed a significant decrease in mean depressive symptom scores at the 6-month follow-up point; this decrease was maintained at 1 year. Improvements in cognitive schemas were also seen at 6 months and 1 year.We observed improvements in cognitive schemas associated with depression as a result of the G-CBT intervention, with effects maintained at 1 year post intervention. This intervention may be effective in positively modifying the cognitions of students with HA and preventing future depression

Increased risk of irritable bowel syndrome in university students due to gastrointestinal symptom-specific anxiety

Background: Gastrointestinal symptom-specific anxiety (GSA) has been reported to impact symptom severity in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), suggesting that GSA may be an important treatment outcome. The present study explored whether higher levels of GSA were associated with increased risk of having IBS, and whether individuals with IBS were at greater risk for severe gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. Methods: Participants comprised 1156 university students. The Rome III modular questionnaire was used to assess for IBS. GSA was measured using the Japanese version of the Visceral Sensitivity Index (VSI). IBS-SI was used to assess severity of GI symptoms. Data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: The prevalence rate of IBS (provisional diagnosis, based on Rome III questionnaire responses) was 21%. Logistic regression analysis was performed using the VSI cutoff point as the independent variable, and the presence or absence of IBS as the dependent variable. Results indicate that for individuals above the VSI cutoff point, the adjusted odds ratio for having IBS was 2.64 (95% CI: 1.87-3.71). Furthermore, results indicate that in participants with high GSA, adjusted odds ratios for severity of IBS symptoms were 0.44 (95% CI: 0.33-0.58) for subclinical, 1.15 (95% CI: 0.90?1.46) for mild symptoms, 2.19 (95% CI: 1.57?3.07) for moderate symptoms, and 5.63 (95% CI: 2.24?14.15) for severe symptoms. Conclusion: Higher VSI scores were associated with having risk factors for IBS and greater severity of IBS symptoms

Increased risk of irritable bowel syndrome in university students due to gastrointestinal symptom-specific anxiety

Background: Gastrointestinal symptom-specific anxiety (GSA) has been reported to impact symptom severity in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), suggesting that GSA may be an important treatment outcome. The present study explored whether higher levels of GSA were associated with increased risk of having IBS, and whether individuals with IBS were at greater risk for severe gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. Methods: Participants comprised 1156 university students. The Rome III modular questionnaire was used to assess for IBS. GSA was measured using the Japanese version of the Visceral Sensitivity Index (VSI). IBS-SI was used to assess severity of GI symptoms. Data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: The prevalence rate of IBS (provisional diagnosis, based on Rome III questionnaire responses) was 21%. Logistic regression analysis was performed using the VSI cutoff point as the independent variable, and the presence or absence of IBS as the dependent variable. Results indicate that for individuals above the VSI cutoff point, the adjusted odds ratio for having IBS was 2.64 (95% CI: 1.87-3.71). Furthermore, results indicate that in participants with high GSA, adjusted odds ratios for severity of IBS symptoms were 0.44 (95% CI: 0.33-0.58) for subclinical, 1.15 (95% CI: 0.90–1.46) for mild symptoms, 2.19 (95% CI: 1.57–3.07) for moderate symptoms, and 5.63 (95% CI: 2.24–14.15) for severe symptoms. Conclusion: Higher VSI scores were associated with having risk factors for IBS and greater severity of IBS symptoms

Type A Behavior Pattern and Obesity in Japanese Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Obesity is associated with personality. The Type A behavior pattern (TABP), which is characterized by hostility and competitive behavior, is related to psychological stress. However, the relationship between obesity and the TABP has not been examined. This study aimed to examine the relationship between obesity and the Type A behavior pattern in 3,099 Japanese workers. The Type A behavior pattern was measured via the Maeda Type A Behavior Checklist. Data were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression adjusted for age, being current smokers, heavy drinker, lack of exercise, occupation, and rapid eating. The multivariate odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for obesity associated with TABP was 1.55 (1.13 to 2.13) in men. Regarding other variables, age, lack of exercise, and rapid eating were associated with obesity in men. The multivariate odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for obesity associated with TABP was 1.27 (0.81 to 2.02) in women. Regarding other variables, age and rapid eating were associated with obesity in women. The findings suggest that the Type A behavior pattern was associated with increased obesity prevalence in Japanese men. People with TABP tend to eat larger portions during mealtimes repeatedly by rapid eating; it is possible that eating large portions may lead to an increase weight in men with TABP