Longitudinal assessment of the common sense model before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: A large coeliac disease cohort study

J Psychosom Res. 2022 Feb:153:110711. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2021.110711. Epub 2021 Dec 24.

Abstract

Objective: Psychosocial factors likely play a substantial role in the well-being of those living with coeliac disease, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, however, little research has examined well-being in this cohort using an integrated socio-cognitive model. This study had two aims: (1) Examine changes in gastrointestinal symptoms, psychosocial factors, and well-being outcomes (i.e., psychological distress, quality of life [QoL]) associated with the pandemic, (2) Examine the interrelationship of these variables across timepoints using the Common Sense Model (CSM).

Methods: 1697 adults with coeliac disease (Time 1, pre-pandemic; 83.1% female, mean age = 55.8, SD = 15.0 years) and 674 follow-up participants (Time 2, pandemic; 82.8% female, mean age = 57.0, SD = 14.4 years) completed an online questionnaire. Hypotheses were tested using repeated measures MANOVA and cross-lagged panel model analyses.

Results: Participants reported improved QoL, and reduced gastrointestinal symptoms, negative illness perceptions and maladaptive coping from pre-pandemic to during the pandemic. There was no significant change in pain catastrophising or psychological distress. Cross-lagged effects showed gastrointestinal symptoms to predict negative illness perceptions, which in turn were predictive of poorer outcomes across all variables except pain catastrophising. Consistent with the CSM, there was a reciprocal relationship between illness perceptions and QoL over time. Maladaptive coping and pain catastrophising demonstrated limited predictive utility.

Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic appears to have had a small beneficial effect across several indices of well-being among adults with coeliac disease. Cross-lagged relationships highlight illness perceptions as a predictor of well-being outcomes and a potential target for psychosocial interventions.

Keywords: COVID-19; Coeliac disease; Common sense model; Coping; Cross-lagged panel model; Illness perceptions; Longitudinal; Psychosocial; Quality of life.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Adult
  • COVID-19*
  • Celiac Disease* / epidemiology
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pandemics
  • Quality of Life
  • SARS-CoV-2