Abstract

The present research examined the relation between symptoms (especially constipation and diarrhea) related with bowel movement and psychological factors (depression, anxiety, anger, and three mode of anger expression). Two hundred and sixty four college women were asked to fill out a questionnaire on the symptoms related with bowel movement, CES-D, STAI-Y, and STAXI-K. The results showed that overall, among the symptoms related with bowel movement constipation, abdominal pain, feeling of abdominal distension, abdominal tenderness, frequent gas, smell of gas, and belching were positively correlated with depression, anxiety, anger, and anger-in. However, diarrhea did not show any significant correlation with the above psychological factors. These results suggest that psychological factors are important in understanding and treating the symptoms related with bowel movement. It was also found that the shy attitudes about bowel movement were positively correlated with diarrhea and especially constipation. These results suggest that psychological and behavioral interventions would be helpful for the relief of diarrhea and constipation. Lastly, a few limitations of the present research and suggestions for the future research are discussed.