Anxiety may be a risk factor for experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms during endurance races: An observational study

Abstract

Scarce research has examined the links between stress, anxiety, and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms during competition, despite that they are positively correlated in the general population. A total of 186 endurance athletes completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)-14, Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI)-3, and State-Trait Inventory for Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety (STICSA) before races. Afterwards, they reported the severity of in-race GI symptoms. Associations between high levels of stress and anxiety (defined as the top tertile) and GI distress (≥3 on a 0–10 scale) were examined using logistic regression. Athletes with high PSS-14 scores did not have greater odds of GI symptoms, except nausea (odds ratio [OR] = 2.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02–4.78). High scores on the STICSA-trait were associated with nausea (OR = 3.43, 95% CI 1.57–7.50) and regurgitation/reflux (OR = 3.31, 95% CI 1.26–8.73). Among a sub-sample of 125 participants that completed STICSA-state questionnaires, higher anxiety was associated with nausea (OR = 5.57, 95% CI 1.96–15.83), regurgitation/reflux (OR = 3.75, 95% CI 1.17–12.00), fullness (OR = 2.98, 95% CI 1.05–8.49), and cramping (OR = 3.99, 95% CI 1.36–11.68). The ORs remained relatively stable after adjusting for age, gender, experience, body mass index, type of race, and race duration. ASI-3 scores were not associated with symptoms. Individuals with higher levels of anxiety, especially on the morning of a race, may be prone GI distress, particularly nausea, regurgitation/reflux, and cramping.

Keywords:

• Endurance
• exercise
• psychology
• stress

Acknowledgements

This work was not funded by any external sources.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).