Prevalence of functional constipation and its impact on quality of life among young adults: a cross-sectional study

Ow Yong, Jie Min (2024) Prevalence of functional constipation and its impact on quality of life among young adults: a cross-sectional study. Final Year Project, UTAR.

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Abstract

Background: Functional constipation (FC) is a common gastrointestinal condition affecting both adults and children globally. This study focuses on young adults aged 18–25, including university students, among whom the prevalence of FC in Malaysia is 16.2%, with higher rates in females (17.4%). Contributing factors include sedentary lifestyles, poor sleep, low physical activity, unhealthy diets, and insufficient fiber intake. FC significantly impacts quality of life, causing hemorrhoids pelvic floor dysfunction, faecal incontinence, and abdominal discomfort. Prolonged straining can weaken pelvic floor muscles, pressure pelvic organs, and impair bladder function. This study explores the prevalence of FC and its effect on young adults' quality of life. Objective: To determine the prevalence of functional constipation among young adults and to assess its impact on their quality of life. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a valid and reliable questionnaire is used in data collection. 422 participants will be recruited. A consent form and demographic data will be provided for the individuals to fill out. Then, the participants are required to fill up the following questionnaire. The questionnaire consists of a Faecal Incontinence and Constipation Questionnaire, a stool chart and Short Form-12. The SPSS software is used for the analysis of collected data. Results: This research study recruited 422 participants with a mean age of 21.56 years. The gender distribution of 77% female and 23% male participants. Based on the results, the prevalence of FC was found to be 24.88%, which shows that 105 participants identified as having FC. In this study, QoL was evaluated utilizing validated tools which as the SF-12 questionnaire, and the data indicated that 28.91% of participants had a low QoL. The data was further analysed with the participants with FC, which revealed that 80.95% of participants experienced low QoL. A significant negative correlation (r = -0.345, p<0.05) was established between FC and QoL, suggesting that as the severity of FC increased, QoL decreased. The Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Summary (MCS) scores from the SF-12 were affected, although the decline in mental health was notably more severe. Conclusion: According to this study, FC is quite common among young adults and has a significant negative influence on quality of life, especially mental health. The results point to the necessity of focused health education and interventions to enhance lifestyle choices, increase consciousness, and lessen the stigma attached to FC. By addressing these issues, young people's general welfare can be improved and the psychological and physical effects of this illness can be lessened. It is advised that further studies be done to examine management and preventative tactics that work for this population.

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