The Relationship Between Stress Levels and Irritable Bowel Syndrome Incidence in Female Medical Students Batch 2022 at University of Lampung
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53366/jimki.v12i3.1057Keywords:
Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Medical Students, Stress LevelsAbstract
Background: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a multifactorial functional gastrointestinal disorder that can be influenced by psychological factors, including stress. Medical students represent a population at high risk of experiencing academic stress, which may trigger or exacerbate IBS symptoms. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between stress levels and the occurrence of IBS among female medical students batch 2022 at the University of Lampung.
Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 60 female students from the class of 2022 who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Stress levels were assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10), while IBS was identified based on the Rome IV criteria. Statistical analysis was conducted using the chi-square test to examine the association between stress levels and IBS occurrence.
Results: A total of 48 respondents (80%) reported moderate-to-high stress levels, while 12 respondents (20%) had low stress levels. Overall, 20 respondents (33.3%) were diagnosed with IBS. The analysis revealed a significant association between stress levels and IBS occurrence (p = 0.040), with a higher proportion of IBS cases observed in the moderate-to-high stress group compared to the low stress group.
Discussion: These findings are consistent with previous literature indicating that stress can influence gastrointestinal function through the brain–gut axis and modulation of the microbiota, thereby increasing the risk of developing IBS symptoms.
Conclusion: Stress levels are significantly associated with the occurrence of IBS among female medical students.
Keywords: Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Medical Students, Stress Levels
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