Most of the psychosocial literature in IBD has focused on the potential impact of stress and recording the prevalence and non-modifiable predictors of depression and anxiety such as active disease, hospitalisation, surgery (particularly stoma formation) and unemployment. Less research in IBD has investigated potentially modifiable factors known to be related to distress and quality of life in other LTCs such as illness perceptions, social support and coping strategies, although one study has found a similar association in IBD. This is of particular interest due to the potential behavioural and physiological pathways through which they could impact on health and quality of life.