Poop Anxiety Survey Results
Everybody poops, it’s a daily occurrence for much of the population. Yet, so many people experience shame and anxiety around the process. While most of us have no problem using public washrooms to urinate, having a bowel movement in a public toilet can cause a ton of stress. This is known as poop anxiety, or parcopresis. It isn’t just standard public washrooms either, some individuals find it difficult to poop anywhere that another person might be near, including in their own home.
It can be even more difficult to deal with poop anxiety if you have a gastrointestinal condition, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), celiac disease, or lactose intolerance. Individuals who experience frequent diarrhea, constipation, and intestinal gas might face more embarrassment than others because of the added awkwardness of having atypical bowel movements. And those who have to go frequently might always be worried about both finding a public washroom and the act of using it. Some people even worry about being judged for having poop anxiety, as they might have friends or family who make fun of their inability to use public washrooms. The severity of poop anxiety can vary between individuals, with some just feeling slightly uncomfortable and others finding it impossible to go anywhere outside their home due to anxiety.
The GI Society hosted a short survey from September 13-29, 2021, and shared it on social media and over email, to learn more about how people experience and manage poop anxiety. The survey was open worldwide to individuals of all ages and we received 667 respondents (566 English, 101 French).
Want to learn more?
We have several related articles that may be helpful:
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Stress Management
- Mental Health and GI Conditions
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Anxiety
