Introduction

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) substantially affect patients’ physical, psychological, and social functioning. Although numerous studies have evaluated health-related quality of life in IBD, comparatively fewer investigations have focused specifically on life satisfaction and its relationship with socio-demographic characteristics.

Aim

The study aimed to compare patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), assess their level of life satisfaction, and evaluate its association with selected socio-demographic factors and social and professional activity.

Material and methods

This comparative study included 109 patients with CD and 101 patients with UC. The inclusion criteria were a diagnosis of IBD and an age of 18–85 years. The patients were recruited from the Clinical Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and the Outpatient Gastroenterology Department of the University Hospital of Krakow.

Results

The study did not reveal any differences between the groups in mean life satisfaction. No significant differences were observed regarding the effects of the diseases on social and professional activity. The CD patients demonstrated statistically significant differences in their life satisfaction by education level. The satisfaction level of UC subjects was significantly affected by their place of residence. Both CD and UC increased the need to restrict or withdraw from professional life, limiting social contacts. The decrease in Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) was most affected by the deterioration of social standing; the least dependence was observed for the necessity of limiting one’s professional life.

Conclusions

Both CD and UC patients report similar levels of life satisfaction, as both conditions have a comparable impact on their social and work lives. The patients are apprehensive about their future and are forced to limit their present professional involvement or withdraw from their professional life.