Supplementary file 1_Depressive symptoms as a mediator in the association between regular physical activity and irritable bowel syndrome-related symptom severity: a cross-sectional study among college students.docx

Although regular physical activity (RPA) benefits both mental and gastrointestinal health, its potential psychological mechanisms in IBS-related symptom severity remain unclear. This study was designed to examine the association between RPA and IBS-related symptom severity among Chinese college students and to clarify the mediating roles of depressive symptoms.</p>Methods<p>A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 872 students from three universities in Shandong Province, China.

Data on demographics, RPA, anxiety and depression assessed by the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), and IBS-related symptom severity evaluated using the Irritable Bowel Syndrome Severity Scoring System (IBS-SSS) and the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) were collected. Group comparisons, multiple regression, and mediation analyses were performed.</p>Results<p>Comparisons between students engaging in RPA and their sedentary peers revealed significantly lower IBS-SSS and GSRS scores in the RPA group.