Differing coping mechanisms, stress level and anorectal physiology in patients with functional constipation

Table 1 Transit time and anorectal physiological assessment in patients and controls (mean±SD)

	Control (n = 17)		Patient (n = 80)		P
Transit time
Right segment	7.3	6.4	12.7	11.5	0.08
Left segment	5.8	6.3	17.8	6.8	< 0.0001
Sigmoid-rectal segment	6.1	6.2	23.9	19.1	< 0.0001
Total colon	10.4	7.6	56.2	29.1	< 0.0001
Balloon measurements (mL)
First sensation	33	9	39	17	0.2
Constant sensation/urge	63	20	79	30	0.019
Maximum tolerable volume	95	16	110	38	0.03

Table 2 Correlation between anxiety/depression (the MAACL score) and the scores of various coping strategies

Coping strategies	Correlation coefficient	P
Monitoring	0.2	0.9
Blunting	-0.05	0.6
Social support	-0.4	0.003
Controllable problem solving	-0.4	< 0.0001
Uncontrollable problem solving	-0.3	0.03
Controllable catharsis	-0.3	0.009
Uncontrollable catharsis	-0.2	0.1
Controllable wishful thinking	-0.2	0.1
Uncontrollable wishful thinking	-0.2	0.3
Controllable distancing	0.1	0.7
Uncontrollable distancing	0.002	0.9

Table 3 Coping scores in patients and controls

Coping strategies	Patient (n = 80)		Control (n = 18)		P
	Median scores	Range	Median scores	Range
Monitoring	14	3-27	9	2-15	0.001
Blunting	8	1-16	9	5-16	0.9
Social support	43	33-56	41	34-51	0.3
Controllable problem solving	6	1-11	6	1-12	0.3
Uncontrollable problem solving	5	1-11	5	1-9	0.8
Controllable catharsis	6	1-12	6	2-10	0.7
Uncontrollable catharsis	5	1-11	5	1-10	0.9
Controllable wishful thinking	5	1-12	5	1-12	0.6
Uncontrollable wishful thinking	4	1-12	5	1-12	0.3
Controllable distancing	4	1-10	3	1-7	0.4
Uncontrollable distancing	5	1-12	5	1-12	0.9