Association between abuse and neglect with functional constipation and irritable bowel syndrome in adolescents

Abstract

Objectives

To evaluate the association between violence exposure, abuse, and neglect victimization with functional constipation and irritable bowel syndrome in adolescents.

Methods

Observational cross-sectional case–control study conducted with adolescents from two public schools in the municipality of Osasco, metropolitan region of São Paulo, Brazil. A self-administered questionnaire validated for Brazilian Portuguese Child Abuse Screening Tools – Children’s version (ICAST-C) was used to screen the different types of violence. The definition of functional constipation and irritable bowel syndrome was performed using the Rome IV criteria for adolescents. Parents or legal guardians completed the questionnaire for socioeconomic assessment and signed the informed consent form.

Results

265 students aged 11–17 years, 157 females, were evaluated. Functional constipation and irritable bowel syndrome were found in 74 (27.9%) of the 265 adolescents. Violence exposure was found in 82.6% of the 265 screened adolescents, physical abuse in 91.3%, psychological abuse in 93.2%, sexual abuse in 12.1%, and neglect in 53.6%. The multiple logistic regression analysis showed an association (p < .05) between functional constipation and irritable bowel syndrome with violence exposure (OR = 2.77), physical abuse (OR = 2.17), psychological abuse (OR = 2.95), and neglect (OR= 2.31). There was no association with sexual abuse.

Conclusions

Functional constipation and irritable bowel syndrome were associated with violence exposure, physical abuse, psychological abuse, and neglect in adolescent students from public schools. No association was found with sexual abuse. Further studies are necessary to investigate the causal relationship between violence and functional gastrointestinal disorders.

Keywords:

• Exposure to violence
• physical abuse
• violence
• functional gastrointestinal disorders
• adolescent

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Author contributions

ICMJE Authorship criteria

Camila Almeida meets the following criteria to be included as author:

• Substantial contributions to the conception, design the acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of data for the work.

• Drafting and writing the article.

• Final approval of the version to be published.

• Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Soraia Tahan meets the following criteria to be included as author:

• Substantial contributions to the conception, design of the work, the acquisition, analysis and interpretation of data for the work.

• Drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content.

• Final approval of the version to be published.

• Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Kelsy Areco meets the following criteria to be included as co-author:

• Analysis and interpretation of data for the work including statistical analyses.

• Final approval of the version to be published.

Mauro Morais meets the following criteria to be included as author:

• Substantial contributions to the conception, design, analysis and interpretation of data for the work.

• Drafting and writing the work.

• Final approval of the version to be published.

• Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Additional information

Funding

Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES), Brazil. National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), Brazil.