SELF-COMPASSION IN ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE: RELATIONSHIP OF SELF-COMPASSION TO PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL OUTCOMES. (21st January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Neiman, Nicole; Yeh, Ann Ming; Bensen, Rachel; Sanjines, Elvi; Wren, Anava
• Is Part Of: Inflammatory bowel diseases. Volume 27(2021)Supplement 1
• Page Start: S55
• Page End: S55
• Publication Date: 2021-01-21
• Subjects: Inflammatory bowel diseases -- Periodicals; Colitis, Ulcerative -- Periodicals; Crohn Disease -- Periodicals; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.344
• DOI: 10.1093/ibd/izaa347.130
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1078-0998

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Adolescents and young adults (AYA) with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) are at increased risk for poor psychological and physical well-being. Self-compassion (i.e., understanding and acceptance towards oneself) has been associated with better psychological and physical outcomes in AYA with chronic health conditions. There is limited research exploring self-compassion in AYA with IBD. Aims: To examine: 1) the reliability of a Self-Compassion Scale (SCS-SF), and 2) how self-compassion relates to physical (i.e., pain interference, fatigue) and psychological (i.e., stress, anxiety, depression) outcomes in a sample of AYA with IBD. Methods: This study was a collaboration with ImproveCareNow, and all procedures were approved by Stanford's Institutional Review Board. Study participants included 85 AYA (mean=18 yrs) with IBD (52% Crohn's; 55% female; 61% White). Participants completed a one-time online survey. The internal reliability of SCS-SF was a = 0.88, indicating high internal consistency. Hierarchical linear regression (HLR) analyses examined the unique contribution of self-compassion to pain interference, fatigue, physical stress, psychological stress, anxiety, and depression after controlling for significant demographic and medical variables (sex, IBD diagnosis, mental health diagnosis). Results: The overall HLR models were significant for all dependent variables. For physical outcomes, the overall model examining pain interference was significant ( F (3, 72) = 4.517; P = 0.003), with sex, IBD diagnosis, and mental health diagnosis accounting for 13% of the variance in pain interference. Self-compassion accounted for an additional 20% of the variance in pain interference over and above demographic/medical variables. For psychological outcomes, the overall model examining anxiety was significant ( F (3, 73) = 15.54; P < 0.001), with sex, IBD diagnosis, and mental health diagnosis accounting for 33% of the variance in anxiety. Self-compassion accounted for an additional 46% of the variance in anxiety over and above demographic/medical variables. HLR also demonstrated that self-compassion was a significant independent predictor of pain interference (b = -0.30, P = 0.015), fatigue (b = -0.38, P = 0.001), psychological stress (b = -0.51, P = < 0.001), anxiety (b = -0.41, P = < 0.001), and depression (b = -0.59, P = < 0.001). Participants reporting higher levels of self-compassion had less pain interference, fatigue, stress, anxiety, and depression. Conclusion: Preliminary results suggest self-compassion may be an important factor in explaining the variability of key physical and psychological outcomes among AYA with IBD. Research should investigate self-compassion in diverse IBD populations, and explore if feelings of kindness and acceptance towards oneself can be a protective factor for AYA by supporting positive coping and adjustment to IBD.