Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Publication

Understanding the College Experience of Students with Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders

Citations
Altmetric:
Abstract
Studies have shown undergraduate students with a functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID) such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), functional dysplasia (FD), or other related functional gastrointestinal disorders have a greater level of perceived stress and a greater difficulty during the transition to college than their healthy peers. There is limited research on how undergraduate students with FGIDs conceptualize their disease, cope mentally and physically, and manage symptoms during the college experience. Because diet is essential in FGID symptom management, the current study aims to understand how on-campus dining options impact the mental and physical health of students with FGIDs and how social, emotional, and personal environments impact their disease management. For many first and multi-year undergraduates, attending post-secondary education includes a dining plan managed and provided by the college or university. Understanding how the foods and resources provided are inclusive to those with FGIDs could help explore the importance of proper nutritional options and emotional support networks to provide insight into the lived experience of undergraduates with FGIDs. This study utilized qualitative in-depth semistructured interviews to better understand how functional gastrointestinal disorders shape the college social, personal, and nutritional experience and to understand how on-campus dining services impact symptom and disease management. The results may be valuable for campus administrators, health and dining service professionals, and others who make decisions about campus resources and wellbeing.
Type
Thesis
Date
2024-05
Publisher
License
License
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Embargo Lift Date
Publisher Version
Embedded videos
Related Item(s)