Background: A range of psychosocial factors plays an important role in the experience of gastrointestinal symptoms. Although the association between life stressful events and gastrointestinal problems is well established, the mediating role of psychological variables—particularly symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder—has received less attention. The present study aimed to examine the mediating role of generalized anxiety disorder symptoms in the relationship between life stressful events and gastrointestinal symptoms among university students.
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on undergraduate and graduate students at the Islamic Azad University of Neyshabur during the 2024–2025 academic year. The sample consisted of 338 students selected through convenience sampling from the faculties of Humanities, Medical Sciences, and Engineering. Data were collected using the Spitzer et al. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) scale, the Green et al. Life Stressful Events Screening Questionnaire (SLESQ), and the Revicki et al. Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed using LISREL and SPSS software.
Findings: The findings revealed significant positive correlations among life stressful events, generalized anxiety disorder symptoms, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Moreover, generalized anxiety disorder symptoms significantly mediated the relationship between life stressful events and gastrointestinal symptoms, and the structural model demonstrated good fit indices.
Conclusion: The results highlight the influential role of life stressful events and generalized anxiety disorder symptoms in the development and persistence of gastrointestinal symptoms among students. Future studies should explore educational and therapeutic interventions targeting generalized anxiety disorder symptoms to help reduce gastrointestinal complaints in student populations.