Difficulties in Emotion Regulation and Mindfulness in Psychological and Somatic Symptoms of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders

BACKGROUND: Negative emotions are the best predictors for psychological and physical health. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate the role of difficulties in emotion regulation and mindfulness on psychological and somatic symptoms of patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, the studied sample was selected using census method. A total of 167 patients with FGID completed a demographic questionnaire, difficulties in emotion regulation scale (DERS), mindful attention awareness scale (MAAS), depression, anxiety and stress scale (DASS), and gastrointestinal symptom rating scale (GSRS). To examine the relationship between studied variables, Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple regression analyses were used. RESULTS: The findings of the study indicate that difficulties in emotion regulation and mindfulness are significantly correlated to both increased psychological and somatic symptoms. Some factors of difficulties in emotion regulation positively predicted those symptoms. Among these factors, only lack of awareness was not significantly correlated with both symptoms as well as decreased mindfulness. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest some potential targets to reduce symptoms. Patients with FGID may benefit from treatments that facilitate emotional experience, functional status, and ability to control impulsive behaviors and behave according to the goals when experiencing negative emotions.