BMC Gastroenterol. 2026 Jan 31. doi: 10.1186/s12876-026-04654-3. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common brain-gut interaction disorders, characterized by chronic abdominal pain, altered bowel habits, and heightened stress responses that significantly affect patients’ psychological functioning and quality of life. Given that chronic stress plays a central role in the onset and maintenance of IBS symptoms, identifying psychological resources that promote adaptation and well-being is crucial. The present study aimed to examine the mediating role of resilience in the relationship between cognitive flexibility and psychological well-being among patients with IBS.
METHOD: This descriptive-correlational study employed a structural equation modeling approach. The statistical population included all IBS patients who referred to the Gastrointestinal Health Center at Al-Zahra Hospital in Isfahan in 2024. A sample of 300 patients was selected using convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Psychological Well-Being Scale, Cognitive Flexibility Inventory, and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and analyzed using SPSS and AMOS version 28.
FINDINGS: Results showed that cognitive flexibility and resilience significantly predicted psychological well-being, and that resilience mediated the relationship between cognitive flexibility and psychological well-being. These findings highlight the importance of resilience and cognitive flexibility as protective psychological resources that help patients manage stress and improve well-being in the context of IBS.
PMID:41620640 | DOI:10.1186/s12876-026-04654-3
