Problem behavior, parental stress and enuresis.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Psychology
• Child Psychiatry
• Behavioral Pediatrics

Background:

• Childhood enuresis, including monosymptomatic and non-monosymptomatic forms, is a common condition affecting children.
• Parental perception of child behavior and parental stress are significant factors in managing childhood conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine maternal and paternal ratings of problem behavior in children aged 5-13 with (non)monosymptomatic enuresis.
• To investigate parental stress levels in parents of children with enuresis.
• To examine the association between parental behavior ratings and parental stress.

Main Methods:

• Compared problem behavior using the Child Behavior Checklist and Disruptive Behavior Disorders Rating Scale in 78 children with (non)monosymptomatic enuresis and 110 controls.
• Assessed parental stress using the Parenting Stress Index.

Main Results:

• Mothers reported significantly higher externalizing and total behavior problems in enuretic children compared to controls.
• Both mothers and fathers of enuretic children reported higher scores for inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity, and oppositional defiant disorder.
• Parents of enuretic children experienced significantly higher overall stress, particularly stress related to child characteristics, which correlated with reported behavior problems.

Conclusions:

• Maternal and paternal reports indicate increased problem behaviors in children with (non)monosymptomatic enuresis.
• Parents of enuretic children experience heightened stress, which is strongly associated with their perception of the child's behavior problems.