Discrimination and Irritable Bowel Syndrome Diagnosis Among a Multi-Ethnic Sample

Abstract Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a diagnosis of the gut-brain interaction (DGBI) characterized by abdominal pain/discomfort and alterations in bowel habits. Its etiology is typically attributed to disruptions in the gut-brain axis. While extensive research has established significant associations with facets of mental health (e.g., trauma, anxiety), less is known about IBS in a cross-cultural context and the social determinants of health that may affect its presentation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of discrimination with the likelihood of obtaining an IBS diagnosis among a diverse sample. A logistic regression was conducted among 980 Black, Asian, Latinx, and Arab/Middle Eastern North African groups. Results revealed that racial discrimination [OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.01, 1.07, p = .012] emerged as a significant predictor of IBS diagnosis. Sex did not emerge as a significant predictor. Implications for health care are discussed. Providers should approach IBS through a biopsychosocial lens while considering discrimination as a social determinant of health that may be related to provider-patient interactions or the physiological toll of discrimination.