The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of shame experience in the relationship between symptom severity and quality of life (QOL) in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

A total of 122 subjects who met the diagnostic criteria for IBS responded to a questionnaire measuring shame experience, symptom severity, and QOL.

Study results revealed that shame experience, symptom severity, and QOL were all positively correlated with IBS. Further, shame experience partially mediated the relationship between severity of the symptoms and quality of life among individual’s suffering with IBS.

These results suggest the shame experience influences the process linking severity of IBS symptoms to low QOL. Therefore, it is important to promote sensitivity to the shame experience among IBS in various clinical situations. This paper includes limitations and suggestions for future research directions.