The structural model of pain, cognitive strategies, and negative emotions in functional gastrointestinal disorders

BACKGROUND: Patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) may use specific coping strategies. We intend to provide a mediating role of the relationship between pain (intensity and acceptance), cognitive emotion regulation strategies, and negative emotions in patients with FGIDs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants were 176 inpatients, all experiencing significant FGIDs symptomatology as confirmed by gastroenterologists. Patients completed data on cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire, short form of depression, anxiety, stress scale, chronic pain acceptance questionnaire-revised, and pain intensity scale. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling method. RESULTS: The pain intensity had significantly direct effect on cognitive emotion regulation strategies and indirect effect on negative emotions. Besides, the mediating role of negative emotions in the relationship between the strategies and pain acceptance were supported, whereas indirect relationships between pain intensity and acceptance through cognitive strategies were not confirmed. CONCLUSION: The results of the study emphasize the role of pain intensity in the development of negative emotions through cognitive strategies and the role of the strategies in pain acceptance through negative emotions. In fact, cognitive strategies to be related to pain and emotions.