A Comparative Study of Perceived Stress, Personality Traits, and Resilience in Patients with Gastrointestinal Disorders and Healthy Controls

<ns3:p>This study aimed to compare perceived stress, personality traits, and resilience in patients with gastrointestinal (GI) disorders and healthy counterparts. Methods A causal-comparative design was employed. The sample consisted of 100 participants, divided into 50 patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) referred to the Valiasr International Hospital Gastroenterology Clinic in Tabriz, and 50 healthy matched controls (patient companions). Participants were selected via purposive sampling. Data were collected using three standardized questionnaires: the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) [5], the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) [9], and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) [12]. Data were analyzed using both univariate (ANOVA) and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). Results The results indicated a significant difference between the two groups across all measured variables (p < 0.05). Patients with GI disorders reported significantly higher levels of perceived stress and neuroticism. Conversely, healthy controls scored significantly higher on the other four personality traits: extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness as well as on all components of resilience (personal competence, trust in instincts, tolerance of negative affect, positive acceptance of change, and spiritual influences). Conclusion The findings suggest that psychological factors, including specific personality traits and lower resilience, are significantly associated with GI disorders. Integrating psychological assessments and interventions, such as stress management and resilience training, into the standard care for patients with GI conditions is strongly recommended.</ns3:p>