Health-related subjective well-being with emetophobia

Abstract

This study explored subjective well-being among white females with emetophobia disorder (n = 20, married = 50%, age range 20–25). The participants completed self-report measures of gastrointestinal symptoms, as well as the Gastrointestinal Symptom Severity Index and Gastrointestinal Symptoms-Related Subjective Well-Being Scale. They also responded to an open-ended question on their coping with emetophobia disorder-related gastrointestinal symptoms. Results following exploratory descriptive analysis suggest that females mostly experience gastrointestinal symptoms of stomach discomfort with belching, followed by respiratory circulatory symptoms. They reported coping with their emetophobia disorder by utilising medical and behavioural control measures. Emetophobia disorder lowered the women's sense of subjective well-being from its exacting demands of managing related gastrointestinal symptoms.