Gut-Brain Axis and Emotional Regulation: The Impact of Emotional Regulation on Gastrointestinal Symptoms and Affective States

The gut-brain axis represents a bidirectional communication network linking the central nervous system, enteric nervous system, and gastrointestinal tract, playing a crucial role in both physiological and emotional regulation. Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction (DGBIs) are characterized by gastrointestinal symptoms often accompanied by psychological comorbidities like anxiety and depression. These conditions highlight the complex, bidirectional mechanisms underlying gut-brain interactions, where emotional dysregulation can influence gastrointestinal function and vice versa. This thesis explores the relationship between emotional regulation strategies and gastrointestinal symptoms, including psychological symptoms, in the context of understanding mechanisms underlying DGBIs. A cross-sectional study was conducted through the compilation of an online questionnaire administered to 406 participants, divided into three groups: healthy (n = 227, 56.5%), symptoms without diagnosis (n = 132, 32.8%), and diagnosis (n = 43, 10.7%). Results reveal a significant positive correlation between emotional suppression and psychological distress, including total distress and depression (p < 0.001), while cognitive reappraisal was negatively associated with stress and total distress (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that emotional dysregulation may represent a shared underlying mechanism explaining the well-documented comorbidity between DGBIs and psychiatric disorders, rather than a direct predictor of gastrointestinal symptomatology, underscoring the importance of addressing emotional regulation in the development of effective therapeutic interventions for DGBIs population.