A biopsychosocial examination of sexual functioning and disability among individuals with inflammatory bowel disease

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been linked to sexual difficulties that can impact wellbeing. Comprehensive biopsychosocial research in this area is lacking. Aims: This study tested biopsychosocial predictors of sexual dysfunction in IBD, including protective factors, and examined the mechanistic role of sexual dysfunction in the relationship between disease activity and disability cross-sectionally. Methods: A total of 470 participants completed an online longitudinal survey. Data were analysed using multiple regression and mediation models. Findings: Higher levels of disease activity and body image dissatisfaction predicted greater sexual dysfunction. Higher levels of sexual script flexibility, a theorised protective factor, predicted lower sexual dysfunction. Sexual dysfunction significantly mediated the relationship between disease activity and disability cross-sectionally. Mediation was present longitudinally but became non-significant when baseline levels of the mediator and outcome variable were controlled for. Conclusions: These findings support a biopsychosocial conceptualisation of sexual dysfunction and disability in IBD.