Ulcerative Colitis and Family Life

The impact of UC on family relationships

The impact of ulcerative colitis (UC) on a person’s family life may be devastating and can extend even further, disrupting the lives of those closest to them.

According to Voices of UC, people living with the disease feel its impact is underestimated, and nearly 50% feel there is a need for increased awareness about UC by family members. Patient support organizations, such as the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America, encourage people who have UC to speak to their families about their disease in an effort to cultivate a strong family support system. Family support can provide the comfort and understanding necessary to help alleviate the effects of stressful UC-related situations. Surprisingly, according to Voices of UC, more than half of those living with this disease characterize family members as well informed about UC, yet only 5% describe family members as experts.

Further illustrating the significant impact of UC on family relationships, nearly 70% of Voices of UC respondents report that the disease has directly affected relationships with their children, and more than 40% avoid intimate situations with a spouse or partner. Moreover, survey results reveal that nearly 30% of people with UC have had trouble maintaining a relationship with a spouse or partner due to the disease and that nearly half felt their family and friends underestimated the impact of the disease. Support from knowledgeable family members is a fundamental part of coping with this chronic disease, and the ability to discuss the disease helps people and their families better manage its impact.