title: Irritable bowel syndrome among Japanese adolescents: A nationally representative survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  No nationally representative survey of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) among adolescents has ever been performed in Japan. In the present study, we aimed to clarify the prevalence of IBS among Japanese adolescents and the factors associated with it.
  
  
  METHODS
  The items related to the diagnostic criteria for IBS based on the Rome III Diagnostic Criteria for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders were included in a cross-sectional nationwide survey of "alcohol consumption and smoking habits among junior and senior high school students." The participating schools were sampled from among all junior and senior high schools in Japan using the cluster-sampling method, and self-administered questionnaires were sent to the selected schools by mail. Among 99 416 questionnaires that were collected, data from 98 411 valid responses were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that the prevalence of IBS was 18.6%. Although no sex difference was observed in the overall prevalence of IBS, the prevalence of diarrhea-predominant IBS was higher among boys than among girls, and the prevalence of constipation-predominant IBS was higher among girls than among boys. The prevalence of IBS increased with progression of the school grade, and there were the significant relationships between IBS and sleep-phase delay and insomnia symptoms. IBS was also significantly associated with poor mental health status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that IBS is common among junior and senior high school students, and associated with lifestyle and mental health.
authors: Division of Clinical Psychology, Health Care and Special Support, Graduate School of Education, Joetsu University of Education, Niigata, Japan.
authors: Ryuichiro
authors: R
authors: Yamamoto
authors: Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University, Oita, Japan.
authors: Yoshitaka
authors: Y
authors: Kaneita
authors: Division of Environmental and Preventive Medicine, Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan.
authors: Yoneatsu
authors: Y
authors: Osaki
authors: Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Shimane, Japan.
authors: Hideyuki
authors: H
authors: Kanda
authors: Suzuki Mental Clinic, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors: Kenji
authors: K
authors: Suzuki
authors: National Hospital Organization Kurihama Medical and Addiction Center, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors: Susumu
authors: S
authors: Higuchi
authors: Division of Public Health, Department of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, Nihon University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Maki
authors: M
authors: Ikeda
authors: Division of Public Health, Department of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, Nihon University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Shuji
authors: S
authors: Kondo
authors: ADVANTAGE Psychology Institute, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Takeshi
authors: T
authors: Munezawa
authors: Division of Public Health, Department of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, Nihon University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Takashi
authors: T
authors: Ohida
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D044466:Asian People; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003248:Constipation / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Japanese adolescent; cross-sectional survey; irritable bowel syndrome; nationally representative survey