Study of Prevalence of Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Its Association with Anxiety and Depression among Medical Students

Abstract Background: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder influenced by psychological stressors such as anxiety and depression. Medical students, due to their academic pressures, represent a vulnerable group for developing IBS. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of IBS and examine its association with anxiety and depression among undergraduate medical students at Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in February 2022 among 212 MBBS students, using a stratified non-random sampling method. IBS was diagnosed using Rome III criteria. Anxiety and depression were assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), respectively. Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-square test and odds ratios to identify associations. Results: The prevalence of IBS among the study population was 17.45%, with a higher rate in females (21.7%) than males (10.8%). IBS was significantly associated with depression (OR = 6.933, p < 0.001) and anxiety (OR = 11.802, p < 0.001). More than half of the participants exhibited depressive symptoms (54.7%) and nearly half had anxiety (49.5%). Conclusion: IBS is prevalent among medical students and is strongly associated with psychological factors, particularly anxiety and depression. These findings highlight the need for early mental health screening and interventions within academic institutions to reduce the burden of IBS.