The impact of locus of control on somatic and psychological profiles of patients with irritable bowel syndrome engaging in aerobic exercise

Abstract Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic and recurrent disorder characterized by gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and psychological disorders. Individuals with an external locus of control (LoC), a personality trait influencing one’s actions and outcomes, are more vulnerable to IBS. Physic...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Laura Prospero, Giuseppe Riezzo, Benedetta D’Attoma, Antonia Ignazzi, Antonella Bianco, Isabella Franco, Ritanna Curci, Angelo Campanella, Claudia Beatrice Bagnato, Piero Porcelli, Gianluigi Giannelli, Francesco Russo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-02-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88466-7
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832571710315954176
author Laura Prospero
Giuseppe Riezzo
Benedetta D’Attoma
Antonia Ignazzi
Antonella Bianco
Isabella Franco
Ritanna Curci
Angelo Campanella
Claudia Beatrice Bagnato
Piero Porcelli
Gianluigi Giannelli
Francesco Russo
author_facet Laura Prospero
Giuseppe Riezzo
Benedetta D’Attoma
Antonia Ignazzi
Antonella Bianco
Isabella Franco
Ritanna Curci
Angelo Campanella
Claudia Beatrice Bagnato
Piero Porcelli
Gianluigi Giannelli
Francesco Russo
author_sort Laura Prospero
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic and recurrent disorder characterized by gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and psychological disorders. Individuals with an external locus of control (LoC), a personality trait influencing one’s actions and outcomes, are more vulnerable to IBS. Physical activity can deal with GI symptoms, preserving mental and physical health. In this context, our study aimed to investigate differences in symptom and psychological profiles among IBS patients classified by internal or external LoC when patients engaged in an aerobic exercise program (AEP). Each IBS patient was administered the International Physical Activity Questionnaire—Short Form (IPAQ-SF) before treatment, and the Physical Capacity Assessment Tests were applied before and after treatment. Participants filled out a GI symptom questionnaire before and after the intervention and some validated psychological tests to evaluate the changes induced by AEP. The AEP consisted of 180 min of moderate-intensity aerobic walking activity a week. Fifty-four IBS patients completed the 12-week study; 37 belonged to the internal LoC group and 17 to the external one. The internal LoC subgroup had a higher percentage of physically active subjects and a better physical capacity at baseline than those with external LoC. Only patients with an internal LoC achieved a statistically significant increase in physical capacity as the effect of the AEP. However, there was no statistically significant difference when Delta was considered. The somatic and psychological health status of IBS patients in the external LoC group was poorer than that of the internal LoC group at the baseline, particularly abdominal pain, psychosocial functioning, and emotional distress. After AEP, patients showed significant improvement in scores on the IBS-related and psychological scales, regardless of whether they belonged to the external or internal LoC. The present study confirmed the importance of considering both the GI symptoms and the psychological profile when dealing with IBS. AEP organized in walking groups has shown significant improvements for all IBS patients. Since external LoC was associated with poorer health status, individually tailored interventions should be planned to increase patients’ self-motivation to treatment. Trial registration: registration number NCT05453084. First Posted Date 12/07/2022.
format Article
id doaj-art-2ae9cd702dec458ba6719a4841b0b71f
institution Kabale University
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-2ae9cd702dec458ba6719a4841b0b71f2025-02-02T12:20:58ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-02-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-88466-7The impact of locus of control on somatic and psychological profiles of patients with irritable bowel syndrome engaging in aerobic exerciseLaura Prospero0Giuseppe Riezzo1Benedetta D’Attoma2Antonia Ignazzi3Antonella Bianco4Isabella Franco5Ritanna Curci6Angelo Campanella7Claudia Beatrice Bagnato8Piero Porcelli9Gianluigi Giannelli10Francesco Russo11Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Group, National Institute of Gastroenterology, IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis”Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Group, National Institute of Gastroenterology, IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis”Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Group, National Institute of Gastroenterology, IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis”Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Group, National Institute of Gastroenterology, IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis”Laboratory of Movement and Wellness, National Institute of Gastroenterology, IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis””Laboratory of Movement and Wellness, National Institute of Gastroenterology, IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis””Laboratory of Movement and Wellness, National Institute of Gastroenterology, IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis””Laboratory of Movement and Wellness, National Institute of Gastroenterology, IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis””Laboratory of Movement and Wellness, National Institute of Gastroenterology, IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis””Department of Psychology, University of Chieti-PescaraScientific Direction, National Institute of Gastroenterology, IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis”Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Group, National Institute of Gastroenterology, IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis”Abstract Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic and recurrent disorder characterized by gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and psychological disorders. Individuals with an external locus of control (LoC), a personality trait influencing one’s actions and outcomes, are more vulnerable to IBS. Physical activity can deal with GI symptoms, preserving mental and physical health. In this context, our study aimed to investigate differences in symptom and psychological profiles among IBS patients classified by internal or external LoC when patients engaged in an aerobic exercise program (AEP). Each IBS patient was administered the International Physical Activity Questionnaire—Short Form (IPAQ-SF) before treatment, and the Physical Capacity Assessment Tests were applied before and after treatment. Participants filled out a GI symptom questionnaire before and after the intervention and some validated psychological tests to evaluate the changes induced by AEP. The AEP consisted of 180 min of moderate-intensity aerobic walking activity a week. Fifty-four IBS patients completed the 12-week study; 37 belonged to the internal LoC group and 17 to the external one. The internal LoC subgroup had a higher percentage of physically active subjects and a better physical capacity at baseline than those with external LoC. Only patients with an internal LoC achieved a statistically significant increase in physical capacity as the effect of the AEP. However, there was no statistically significant difference when Delta was considered. The somatic and psychological health status of IBS patients in the external LoC group was poorer than that of the internal LoC group at the baseline, particularly abdominal pain, psychosocial functioning, and emotional distress. After AEP, patients showed significant improvement in scores on the IBS-related and psychological scales, regardless of whether they belonged to the external or internal LoC. The present study confirmed the importance of considering both the GI symptoms and the psychological profile when dealing with IBS. AEP organized in walking groups has shown significant improvements for all IBS patients. Since external LoC was associated with poorer health status, individually tailored interventions should be planned to increase patients’ self-motivation to treatment. Trial registration: registration number NCT05453084. First Posted Date 12/07/2022.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88466-7Aerobic exerciseGastrointestinal symptomsIrritable bowel syndromeLocus of controlPsychological profile
spellingShingle Laura Prospero
Giuseppe Riezzo
Benedetta D’Attoma
Antonia Ignazzi
Antonella Bianco
Isabella Franco
Ritanna Curci
Angelo Campanella
Claudia Beatrice Bagnato
Piero Porcelli
Gianluigi Giannelli
Francesco Russo
The impact of locus of control on somatic and psychological profiles of patients with irritable bowel syndrome engaging in aerobic exercise
Scientific Reports
Aerobic exercise
Gastrointestinal symptoms
Irritable bowel syndrome
Locus of control
Psychological profile
title The impact of locus of control on somatic and psychological profiles of patients with irritable bowel syndrome engaging in aerobic exercise
title_full The impact of locus of control on somatic and psychological profiles of patients with irritable bowel syndrome engaging in aerobic exercise
title_fullStr The impact of locus of control on somatic and psychological profiles of patients with irritable bowel syndrome engaging in aerobic exercise
title_full_unstemmed The impact of locus of control on somatic and psychological profiles of patients with irritable bowel syndrome engaging in aerobic exercise
title_short The impact of locus of control on somatic and psychological profiles of patients with irritable bowel syndrome engaging in aerobic exercise
title_sort impact of locus of control on somatic and psychological profiles of patients with irritable bowel syndrome engaging in aerobic exercise
topic Aerobic exercise
Gastrointestinal symptoms
Irritable bowel syndrome
Locus of control
Psychological profile
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88466-7
work_keys_str_mv AT lauraprospero theimpactoflocusofcontrolonsomaticandpsychologicalprofilesofpatientswithirritablebowelsyndromeengaginginaerobicexercise
AT giusepperiezzo theimpactoflocusofcontrolonsomaticandpsychologicalprofilesofpatientswithirritablebowelsyndromeengaginginaerobicexercise
AT benedettadattoma theimpactoflocusofcontrolonsomaticandpsychologicalprofilesofpatientswithirritablebowelsyndromeengaginginaerobicexercise
AT antoniaignazzi theimpactoflocusofcontrolonsomaticandpsychologicalprofilesofpatientswithirritablebowelsyndromeengaginginaerobicexercise
AT antonellabianco theimpactoflocusofcontrolonsomaticandpsychologicalprofilesofpatientswithirritablebowelsyndromeengaginginaerobicexercise
AT isabellafranco theimpactoflocusofcontrolonsomaticandpsychologicalprofilesofpatientswithirritablebowelsyndromeengaginginaerobicexercise
AT ritannacurci theimpactoflocusofcontrolonsomaticandpsychologicalprofilesofpatientswithirritablebowelsyndromeengaginginaerobicexercise
AT angelocampanella theimpactoflocusofcontrolonsomaticandpsychologicalprofilesofpatientswithirritablebowelsyndromeengaginginaerobicexercise
AT claudiabeatricebagnato theimpactoflocusofcontrolonsomaticandpsychologicalprofilesofpatientswithirritablebowelsyndromeengaginginaerobicexercise
AT pieroporcelli theimpactoflocusofcontrolonsomaticandpsychologicalprofilesofpatientswithirritablebowelsyndromeengaginginaerobicexercise
AT gianluigigiannelli theimpactoflocusofcontrolonsomaticandpsychologicalprofilesofpatientswithirritablebowelsyndromeengaginginaerobicexercise
AT francescorusso theimpactoflocusofcontrolonsomaticandpsychologicalprofilesofpatientswithirritablebowelsyndromeengaginginaerobicexercise
AT lauraprospero impactoflocusofcontrolonsomaticandpsychologicalprofilesofpatientswithirritablebowelsyndromeengaginginaerobicexercise
AT giusepperiezzo impactoflocusofcontrolonsomaticandpsychologicalprofilesofpatientswithirritablebowelsyndromeengaginginaerobicexercise
AT benedettadattoma impactoflocusofcontrolonsomaticandpsychologicalprofilesofpatientswithirritablebowelsyndromeengaginginaerobicexercise
AT antoniaignazzi impactoflocusofcontrolonsomaticandpsychologicalprofilesofpatientswithirritablebowelsyndromeengaginginaerobicexercise
AT antonellabianco impactoflocusofcontrolonsomaticandpsychologicalprofilesofpatientswithirritablebowelsyndromeengaginginaerobicexercise
AT isabellafranco impactoflocusofcontrolonsomaticandpsychologicalprofilesofpatientswithirritablebowelsyndromeengaginginaerobicexercise
AT ritannacurci impactoflocusofcontrolonsomaticandpsychologicalprofilesofpatientswithirritablebowelsyndromeengaginginaerobicexercise
AT angelocampanella impactoflocusofcontrolonsomaticandpsychologicalprofilesofpatientswithirritablebowelsyndromeengaginginaerobicexercise
AT claudiabeatricebagnato impactoflocusofcontrolonsomaticandpsychologicalprofilesofpatientswithirritablebowelsyndromeengaginginaerobicexercise
AT pieroporcelli impactoflocusofcontrolonsomaticandpsychologicalprofilesofpatientswithirritablebowelsyndromeengaginginaerobicexercise
AT gianluigigiannelli impactoflocusofcontrolonsomaticandpsychologicalprofilesofpatientswithirritablebowelsyndromeengaginginaerobicexercise
AT francescorusso impactoflocusofcontrolonsomaticandpsychologicalprofilesofpatientswithirritablebowelsyndromeengaginginaerobicexercise