Depressive symptoms as a mediator in the association between regular physical activity and irritable bowel syndrome-related symptom severity: a cross-sectional study among college students

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

Regular physical activity was inversely associated with irritable bowel syndrome symptom severity (β = -28.665), and depressive symptoms statistically accounted for 19.43% of this association.

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cross-Sectional. Population: Irritable bowel syndrome-related symptom severity (n=872). Intervention: Regular physical activity vs. Non-regular physical activity. Primary outcome: Irritable Bowel Syndrome Severity Scoring System (IBS-SSS) score (β = -28.665, 95% CI -40.129 to -17.201, p=<0.01).

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Regular physical activity is inversely associated with irritable bowel syndrome symptom severity, with depressive symptoms partially mediating this relationship. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Q: What question did this study set out to answer?

To examine the association between regular physical activity and irritable bowel syndrome symptom severity among college students, and to assess whether depressive symptoms mediate this relationship.

Yuqian Sui; Ping Li; Xianfeng Yue; Yue Chen; Shiqing Feng; Jiajie Li; Ruihan Qi; Yixin Hu; Xinyan Wang; Jinxin Mei; Jianhong Qiao; Long Ji; Dong Li; Le Zhang; Xin Ye

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1856261

September 15, 2026Frontiers in PsychologyOpen Access

Depressive symptoms as a mediator in the association between regular physical activity and irritable bowel syndrome-related symptom severity: a cross-sectional study among college students

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Share

Key result

Regular physical activity is linked to lower IBS symptom severity, mediated ~19% by depressive symptoms.

β = -28.665
95% CI -40.129 to -17.201
P<0.01
n=872

Figures

Why the study?

Does regular physical activity reduce irritable bowel syndrome-related symptom severity in college students?

Key Points

To examine the association between regular physical activity and irritable bowel syndrome symptom severity among college students, and to assess whether depressive symptoms mediate this relationship.
Conducted a cross-sectional survey of 872 college students across three universities in Shandong Province, China.
Evaluated anxiety and depression using the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS).
Assessed symptom severity using the Irritable Bowel Syndrome Severity Scoring System (IBS-SSS) and the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS), analyzing associations through multiple linear regression and mediation analysis.
Regular physical activity was inversely associated with IBS-SSS scores (β = −28.665, 95% CI: −40.129 to −17.201, p < 0.01) and GSRS scores (β = −3.538, 95% CI: −5.740 to −1.335, p < 0.01).
Higher anxiety and depression scores were positively associated with both IBS-SSS and GSRS scores (all p < 0.001).
Depressive symptoms significantly mediated the association between regular physical activity and IBS-SSS scores (p < 0.001), accounting for 19.43% of the total effect.

Study Design

Type

Cross-Sectional (n=872)

Multicenter

Yes

Structured PICO

Does regular physical activity reduce irritable bowel syndrome-related symptom severity in college students?

P

Population

872 college students (median age 21, 69.7% female) from three universities in China, evaluated for the association between regular physical activity and irritable bowel syndrome-related symptom severity.

E

Exposure

Regular physical activity (RPA)

C

Comparator

Sedentary peers

O

Outcome

IBS-related symptom severity evaluated using the Irritable Bowel Syndrome Severity Scoring System (IBS-SSS) and the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS)patient reported

Main Result

Mean Difference: -28.665 (95% CI -40.129–-17.201)

p-value: p=<0.01

Regular physical activity is associated with reduced IBS-related symptom severity in young adults, an effect partially mediated by reductions in depressive symptoms.

Limitations

Self-reported IBS-related symptom burden rather than clinically confirmed IBS severity
Cross-sectional design precludes establishing temporal relationships or causality
Homogeneous sample of university students from Shandong Province limits generalizability
Potential unmeasured confounding factors such as genetic susceptibility and gut microbiota differences

Implication

RPA may link to milder IBS symptoms via psychological mediators in students; hypothesis-generating and should not yet change practice.

Abstract

Introduction Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder, substantially affecting quality of life among young adults. Although regular physical activity (RPA) benefits both mental and gastrointestinal health, its potential psychological mechanisms in IBS-related symptom severity remain unclear. This study was designed to examine the association between RPA and IBS-related symptom severity among Chinese college students and to clarify the mediating roles of depressive symptoms. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 872 students from three universities in Shandong Province, China. Data on demographics, RPA, anxiety and depression assessed by the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), and IBS-related symptom severity evaluated using the Irritable Bowel Syndrome Severity Scoring System (IBS-SSS) and the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) were collected. Group comparisons, multiple regression, and mediation analyses were performed. Results Comparisons between students engaging in RPA and their sedentary peers revealed significantly lower IBS-SSS and GSRS scores in the RPA group. Consistent with these observations, multiple linear regression indicated that RPA was inversely associated with IBS-SSS [ β = −28.665, 95% CI : (−40.129, −17.201), p < 0.01] and GSRS [ β = −3.538, 95% CI : (−5.740, −1.335), p < 0.01] scores. In addition, higher SAS and SDS scores were positively associated with IBS-SSS and GSRS scores (all p < 0.001). Mediation analysis showed an estimated indirect association between RPA and IBS-SSS scores through depressive symptoms ( p < 0.001), with a mediation proportion of 19.43%. Conclusion These findings indicate that RPA is associated with reduced IBS-related symptom severity, and that depressive symptoms statistically account for part of this association, highlighting the importance of lifestyle strategies integrating physical and psychological interventions for managing IBS-related symptom in young adults.

Discussion

No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.

Cite This Study

Sui et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Irritable bowel syndrome-related symptom severity (n=872). Regular physical activity vs. Non-regular physical activity was evaluated on Irritable Bowel Syndrome Severity Scoring System (IBS-SSS) score (β = -28.665, 95% CI -40.129 to -17.201, p=<0.01). Regular physical activity was inversely associated with irritable bowel syndrome symptom severity (β = -28.665), and depressive symptoms statistically accounted for 19.43% of this association.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aad0aaede0393d728b89104 https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1856261

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Share

Depressive symptoms as a mediator in the association between regular physical activity and irritable bowel syndrome-related symptom severity: a cross-sectional study among college students

Figures

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Depressive symptoms as a mediator in the association between regular physical activity and irritable bowel syndrome-related symptom severity: a cross-sectional study among college students

Figures

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Keep reading

Keep reading