Posttraumatic Growth in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients: The Role of Illness Cognitions and Physical Quality in Life

Background and Aims Symptoms and complications of inflammatory bowel disease were found to be associated significantly with impaired health-related quality of life. Nevertheless, a positive psychological change like posttraumatic growth might be occurring as well, as was noted among patients with other chronic diseases but remains understudied in patients diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease. In this study, we explored associations between posttraumatic growth and illness cognitions (helplessness, acceptance, and perceived benefits). In addition, we evaluated whether physical quality of life in inflammatory bowel disease patients mediates the link between illness cognitions and posttraumatic growth. Methods The study employed a cross-sectional design. Two hundred patients diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease completed questionnaires assessing illness cognitions, physical quality of life, and posttraumatic growth. Results There is a negative association between illness cognition of helplessness and posttraumatic growth, and positive associations between illness cognitions of acceptance and illness cognitions of perceived benefits, and posttraumatic growth. In addition, the association between an illness cognition of helplessness and posttraumatic growth was mediated via physical quality of life. Yet, the signs of the direct and the indirect paths of an illness cognition of helplessness on posttraumatic growth were opposite. Conclusions This study extends the literature on the role of illness cognitions as an important component in facilitating the process of posttraumatic growth among inflammatory bowel disease patients. Based on the findings, the management of inflammatory bowel disease patients should incorporate more interventions aimed at exploring cognitive aspects of the illness in order to improve physical quality of life and enhance personal growth.