Psychological Correlates of Gluten-free Diet Adherence in Adults With Celiac Disease

Goals: To determine whether personality traits and psychological characteristics are related to gluten-free diet (GFD) adherence in all adult population diagnosed with celiac disease (CD). Background: Little research has examined psychological correlates of adherence to the GFD. Study: One hundred fifty-seven adults with biopsy-confirmed CD on the GFD for > 3 months completed measures of personality and self-reported GFD adherence, provided a blood sample, and participated in an evaluation of GFD adherence conducted by an expert dietician at a clinical care center in a major teaching hospital in Boston, MA. Results: An expert evaluation of GFD adherence remained the "gold standard" for measuring GFD adherence when compared with self-report and serology. Logistic regression results indicated that the following were independently associated with GFD adherence: conscientiousness (B = - 0.04, SE = 0.01, P < 0.00), values (8 = -0.10, SE = 0.05, P < 0.05), other food intolerances [odds ratio = 0.28, 95%,, confidence interval = 0.10-0.78], and CD symptoms (B = 0.05 SE = 0.02, P < 0.03). A model accounting for these associations effectively predicted whether a participant was adherent or nonadherent oil the basis of psychological and demographic/disease-specific factors. Successful prediction rates of GFD adherence for the final model were 75.8% for those rated to be adherent with the GFD and 54.5% for those rated to be nonadherent with the GFD. Conclusions: The model of psychological and demographic/disease-specific characteristics developed can be used to identify patients who may be at risk for poor dietary adherence to provide additional support, education, and encouragement to individuals with CD.