Type D personality and acceptance of illness in people with inflammatory bowel diseases. Mediating role of self-esteem

BACKGROUND: Type D personality is analyzed more and more frequently in the context of various chronic illnesses, including bowel diseases. Acceptance of illness is affected by many factors that facilitate adaptation to the difficulties and limitations and support the healing process. One of those factors may be self-esteem. PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE: One hundred fifty-nine individuals, aged 18 to 65, participated in the study. 67% (n = 107) stated that they have ulcerative colitis (UC), and the remaining 33% (n = 52) reported suffering from Crohn’s disease (CD). The following measurement tools were used: Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (SES), Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS), and Personality Type D Scale (D14). RESULTS: The conducted analyses revealed significant correlations between all studied elements. Self-esteem was proven to be a full mediator in relations between one of the dimensions of type D personality, negative affectivity, as well as between both dimensions of type D personality (negative affectivity and social inhibition) and acceptance of illness in individuals with bowel diseases. However, mediation analysis did not confirm that self-esteem is a mediator between social inhibition and acceptance of illness. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that self-esteem is, for an individual, an essential resource in coping with an illness and adjusting to it. Therefore, providing patient support in the scope of reinforcing self-esteem may prove to be one of the key elements affecting illness acceptance.