This research formed part of my MSc Psychology degree and explored whether illness identity impacts self-management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). A mixed methods approach was used through an online survey, completed by 167 participants living with IBD. A significant relationship was found between illness acceptance and self-management of IBD, ie, when IBD was accepted into a sense of self, illness management improved (and vice versa). This was supported by participants’ reflections that were analysed using thematic analysis.

The research findings have been published in the British Journal of Psychology: Peters, L. A. & Brown, E. M. (2022). The relationship between illness identity and the self-management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. British Journal of Health Psychology. https://doi-org.libaccess.hud.ac.uk/10.1111/bjhp.12584

A poster of the research was presented at the 2021 BPS Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference: Peters, L. A. & Brown, E. M. (2021, June 29). Accepting illness identity improves self-management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). [Poster Presentation]. 2021 BPS Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference, UK. https://tinyurl.com/m75f924w

The research poster and an infographic of research findings can be viewed below.