Association between Insomnia and Irritable Bowel Syndrome among Adolescents in South Korea: A Quantitative Cross-Sectional Study

Insomnia refers to having difficulty sleeping even when given the opportunity and environment to sleep. Irritable bowel syndrome is a functional bowel disease that is accompanied by abdominal pain and irregular defecation but not organic lesions. Although insomnia and irritable bowel syndrome are pathophysiologically related, studies on their relationship among adolescents are lacking. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of insomnia and irritable bowel syndrome among adolescents and the association between them. In May 2021, a survey was conducted among high school adolescents from Daegu Metropolitan City, South Korea, using the Korean version of the Insomnia Severity Index and the Rome IV diagnostic criteria for irritable bowel syndrome. Data were analyzed using chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests and logistic regression analyses. The incidence of insomnia (Insomnia Severity Index score >= 10) was 18.4% (n = 74) while that of irritable bowel syndrome was 10.7% (n = 43). Irritable bowel syndrome was strongly associated with an increased incidence of insomnia (odds ratio = 3.30, 95% confidence interval: 1.66-6.53). Therefore, the association between insomnia and irritable bowel syndrome has relevance in the treatment of insomnia in adolescents.