ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between severity of gastrointestinal symptoms and psychological stress after the earthquake. MethodsThe sample was teachers from Baoxing county which was most affected by the earthquake. Post-traumatic stress disorder checklist civilian version (PCL-C) scale was used to assess the symptoms of psychological stress at 2-3 weeks, 2-3 months, and 6 months after the earthquake, and gastrointestinal symptoms were evaluated using three questions of patient health questionare (PHQ)-15 at 2-3 months and 6 months after the earthquake. Spearman rank correlation was used to explore the dynamic relationship between the symptoms of psychological stress evaluated at the three waves and gastrointestinal symptoms evaluated at 2-3 months and 6 months after the earthquake. ResultsPrevalence rates of gastrointestinal symptoms in teachers were 6.7% and 4.7% for stomach and abdominal pain, 6.7% and 5.6% for constipation and diarrhea, and 9.1% and 8.1% for nausea and gastrointestinal flatulence or dyspepsia at 2-3 months and 6 months after the earthquake. The relationships between three gastrointestinal symptoms evaluated at 2-3 months and 6 months after the earthquake and psychological stress symptoms evaluated at the three waves were all significant (all P<0.05). ConclusionGastrointestinal symptoms are common among the teachers. The association between psychological stress symptoms and severity of gastrointestinal symptoms at the same point after the earthquake is most strong, and psychological stress symptoms in the early period can predict the severity of subsequent gastrointestinal symptoms, and gastrointestinal symptoms in the early period can predict symptoms of subsequent psychological stress.