Department of Psychology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA.
Department of Management, Business Administration, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA.
Appl Psychol Health Well Being. 2022 Aug;14(3):920-936. doi: 10.1111/aphw.12358. Epub 2022 Mar 23.
The gut-brain connection refers to communication between the brain and gastrointestinal (GI) system. Disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) are characterized by GI symptoms that accompany distress and disability. Epidemiological research has suggested DGBI rates in emerging adults are increasing. This study investigated the relationship between GI health, distress, and disability in emerging adults across time. Emerging adults were recruited. A repeated-measure design with a 1-month time lag was used to collect data via an online survey (N = 861) across five academic semesters (Spring 2019 to Summer 2020). Measurement equivalence across time was established and a cross-lagged panel model (CLPM) was specified. Distress at Time 1 predicted GI symptoms at Time 2 (β = .206, SE = .084, p < .05). GI symptoms at Time 1 predicted disability at Time 2 (β = .117, SE = .039, p < .01). Higher disability at Time 1 predicted distress at Time 2 (β = .092, SE = .027, p < .01). The cross-lagged design offers stronger causal inferences than cross-sectional studies used to study the effects of GI symptoms. Findings provide initial evidence of a directional pathway between brain and gut rather than a bidirectional network. Findings highlight the importance of psychogastroenterology.
肠道-大脑连接是指大脑和胃肠道（GI）系统之间的通讯。肠道-大脑相互作用障碍（DGBI）的特征是伴有痛苦和残疾的胃肠道症状。流行病学研究表明，新兴成年人的 DGBI 发病率正在增加。本研究调查了新兴成年人在整个时间内胃肠道健康、痛苦和残疾之间的关系。新兴成年人被招募。使用具有 1 个月时间滞后的重复测量设计，通过在线调查（N = 861）在五个学期（2019 年春季至 2020 年夏季）内收集数据。建立了跨时间的测量等效性，并指定了交叉滞后面板模型（CLPM）。第 1 时间的痛苦预测第 2 时间的 GI 症状（β=.206，SE =.084，p <.05）。第 1 时间的 GI 症状预测第 2 时间的残疾（β=.117，SE =.039，p <.01）。第 1 时间的更高残疾预测第 2 时间的痛苦（β=.092，SE =.027，p <.01）。交叉滞后设计比用于研究 GI 症状影响的横断面研究提供了更强的因果推断。研究结果提供了大脑和肠道之间存在方向性途径而不是双向网络的初步证据。研究结果强调了心理胃肠病学的重要性。
