Age, Disease Symptoms, and Depression are Associated With Body Image Dissatisfaction in Newly Diagnosed Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Grace Cushman, University of Georgia; Mary Gray Stolz, University of Georgia; Sharon Shih, Georgia State University; Zoe Listernick, Emory University; Clair Talmadge, GI Care for Kids, Atlanta, GA.; Benjamin D Gold, GI Care for Kids, Atlanta, GA.; Bonney Reed, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2021-03-01
• Publisher: LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2021 by European Society for European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition and North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MPG.0000000000002943
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC GASTROENTEROLOGY AND NUTRITION
• Volume: 72
• Issue: 3
• Start Page: E57
• End Page: E62
• Grant/Funding Information: This research was supported by both The Digestive Disease Research Fund at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, the National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS) of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number UL1TR002378 and KL2TR002381, and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number K23DK122115.
• Keywords: VALID MEASURE; stress; IMPACT; Nutrition & Dietetics; depression; CHILDREN; ADOLESCENTS; Pediatrics; psychosocial functioning; health-related quality of life; SATISFACTION; anxiety; QUESTIONNAIRE; QUALITY-OF-LIFE; Science & Technology; disease symptoms; Gastroenterology & Hepatology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; RISK; ANXIETY; physical appearance

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Body image refers to the subjective, mental representation one makes regarding their physical appearance. Children and adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may be prone to experiencing negative self-evaluations regarding their body image given disease-related symptoms and treatment side-effects. In this study, we aimed to examine demographic, medical, and psychosocial variables related to body image dissatisfaction (BID) in pediatric patients diagnosed with IBD and to determine which variables are most predictive of higher dissatisfaction. METHODS: A total of 52 youth newly diagnosed with IBD (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, indeterminate colitis) ages 8 to 17 years completed questionnaires regarding their psychosocial functioning (ie, depression, anxiety, health-related quality of life, stress), disease symptoms, and BID. BID was assessed using the modified Adapted Satisfaction with Appearance questionnaire, yielding a total score and subscale scores assessing Perceived Social Impact and Subjective Dissatisfaction. Physician global assessment of disease activity and demographic and medical characteristics were abstracted from electronic chart review. RESULTS: Youth endorsed low overall BID concerns but noted the highest dissatisfaction with their abdomen, chest, and arms. Older child age, greater patient-reported disease symptoms, and worse depression symptoms were most strongly associated with overall body dissatisfaction when evaluated in a hierarchical regression model. CONCLUSIONS: Demographic, disease-related, and psychosocial factors are associated with BID in youth newly diagnosed with IBD. Given associations between BID and adverse health outcomes in healthy youth, these findings highlight a unique opportunity to improve screening and interventions for BID in patients with IBD.