Discriminant and convergent validity of the GSRS‐IBS symptom severity measure for irritable bowel syndrome: A population study
Open accessAbstract
Background: The Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale–Irritable Bowel Syndrome (GSRS‐IBS) is a 13‐item measure of IBS symptom severity. The scale has been used in several studies, but its psychometric properties have been insufficiently investigated and population‐based data are not available. Objective: The objective of this article is to establish the factor structure and discriminant and convergent validity of the GSRS‐IBS. Methods: The study was based on a Swedish population sample (the Popcol study), of which 1158 randomly selected participants provided data on the GSRS‐IBS. We used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and compared total and subscales scores in different groups, including IBS diagnostic status, treatment‐seeking behavior, and predominant bowel habits. The GSRS‐IBS scores were also correlated with quality of life indexes. Results: The sample included 164 participants with a confirmed Rome III IBS diagnosis and 994 participants without the disease. The CFA confirmed the subscales with one exception, in which the incomplete bowel‐emptying item belonged to the constipation subscale rather than the diarrhea subscale. The GSRS‐IBS total score and subscales were associated with diagnostic status, treatment‐seeking behavior, and quality of life dimensions. The relevant subscales scores also differed between the diarrhea‐ and constipation‐predominant subtypes of IBS. Conclusion: The GSRS‐IBS total score and subscales have high discriminant and convergent validity. The CFA confirmed the overall validity of the subscales but suggest that a sense of incomplete emptying belongs to the constipation rather than the diarrhea symptom cluster. We conclude that the GSRS‐IBS is an excellent measure of IBS symptom severity in the general population.
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- Authors
- Ljótsson, B., Jones, M., Talley, N. J., Kjellström, L., Agréus, L., & Andreasson, A.
- Affiliations
- Karolinska Institutet (SE)
- Macquarie University (AU)
- University of Newcastle Australia (AU)
- Stockholm Municipality (SE)
- Department of Psychology Macquarie University North Ryde NSW Australia
- Corresponding author
- Ljótsson, Brjánn
- Venue
- United European Gastroenterology Journal
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2020-04
- Volume
- 8
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 284-292
- ISSN
- 2050-6406 (ISSN-L)
- 2050-6414
- PMC
- PMC7184654
- OpenAlex
- W3000385731
- Cited by
- 44
- References
- 29
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 7
- FWCI
- 5.21
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- United European Gastroenterology Journal (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- NOVA (University of Newcastle Australia) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- irritable bowel syndrome, Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale, symptom severity assessment, psychometric validation, factor structure, discriminant validity, convergent validity, treatment-seeking behavior, bowel habits, irritable bowel syndrome with constipation, diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome, quality of life
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Constipation, Diarrhea, Factor Analysis, Statistical, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Psychometrics, Quality of Life, Surveys and Questionnaires, Severity of Illness Index, Sweden, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Young Adult
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