The psychological mediators in the relationship between disease activity and psychological distress and quality of life in inflammatory bowel disease

Research indicates that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with significant reductions in psychological wellbeing and quality of life (QoL). The aim of this study was to examine whether illness beliefs, coping styles, self-efficacy, and dispositional mindfulness mediate this relationship, as guided by the socio-cognitive common-sense model (CSM) by Leventhal et al. (1980). The findings highlight the importance of considering illness perceptions, coping style (adaptive versus maladaptive) and self-efficacy that influence an individual’s psychological distress and Quality of life.