Negative affect and the seeking of medical care in university students with irritable bowel syndrome: a preliminary study.

In a preliminary study using only self-report measures, university students completed questionnaires about their bowel symptoms and trait anxiety. Results showed that students with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) reported higher trait anxiety than asymptomatic controls. Among the students with IBS, there were no significant differences in trait anxiety between those who had sought medical care for IBS mostly from a primary care physician, and those who had not sought care for IBS. Students who had sought medical care for IBS reported being more bothered by the symptoms and were more concerned about their meaning than those students who had not sought care. The results are compared to other research with IBS patients referred to specialist clinics, and a distinction is made between initial vs. continued care seeking for IBS.