Association between Constipation and Stressful Life Events in a Cohort of Sri Lankan Children and Adolescents

• Published in: Journal of tropical pediatrics (1980) Vol. 56; no. 3; pp. 144 - 148
• Main Authors: MANJURI DEVANARAYANA, Niranga, RAJINDRAJITH, Shaman
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 01-06-2010
• Subjects: Adolescent; Asian Continental Ancestry Group; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Constipation - epidemiology; Constipation - psychology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Gastrointestinal Diseases - etiology; Gastrointestinal Diseases - psychology; General aspects; Humans; Life Change Events; Male; Medical sciences; Other diseases. Semiology; Risk Factors; Sri Lanka - epidemiology; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Stress, Psychological; Surveys and Questionnaires; Sri Lanka; Human; Pediatrics; Adolescent; Digestive diseases; Intestinal disease; Tropical medicine; Constipation; Child
• ISSN: 0142-6338; 1465-3664
• DOI: 10.1093/tropej/fmp077

Emotional stress is associated with some functional gastrointestinal diseases, but its role in aetiology of functional constipation is unclear. This island-wide, questionnaire-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess the association between constipation and emotional stress, in 10-16-year-olds. Constipation was defined using Rome III criteria. Out of 2699 children included in the analysis, 416 (15.4%) had constipation. Constipation was higher in those exposed to stressful events (odds ratio 2.52, p < 0.0001). Separation from the best friend, failure in an examination, severe illness of a family member, loss of job by a parent, frequent punishment by parents and living in an area affected by separatist war remained independently associated with constipation (p < 0.05). In conclusion, constipation was significantly higher in children exposed to stressful life events. Modulation of gut motility through brain-gut axis probably alters colonic transit and ano-rectal functions, causing constipation.