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Published on: October 2, 2019

Psychological problems in children with bedwetting and combined (day and night) wetting: A UK population-based study

Carol Joinson1, Jon Heron, Alan Emond

  • 1Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK. Carol.Joinson@bristol.ac.uk

Journal of Pediatric Psychology
|October 31, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Bedwetting and combined wetting in children are linked to psychological issues, with combined wetting posing a higher risk for externalizing behaviors, according to parent reports.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Psychology
  • Child Development
  • Urology

Background:

  • Bedwetting (nocturnal enuresis) and combined wetting (day and night) are common childhood issues.
  • Psychological well-being can be impacted by chronic wetting problems.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine psychological problems in children experiencing bedwetting or combined wetting.
  • To compare these issues with children without wetting problems.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from over 8000 children in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children.
  • Assessed psychological problems via parent questionnaires and child clinical interviews.
  • Compared rates of psychological issues across wetting and non-wetting groups.

Main Results:

  • Parent-reported psychological problems were more frequent in children with bedwetting and combined wetting.
  • Children with combined wetting showed a heightened risk for externalizing problems.
  • Child-reported measures revealed minimal differences between groups.

Conclusions:

  • Bedwetting and combined wetting are associated with parent-reported psychological difficulties.
  • Combined wetting presents an elevated risk for externalizing behaviors in children.
Abstract

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