Association between elimination disorders and abusive maternal attitudes

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Family Studies
• Clinical Psychiatry

Background:

• Elimination disorders (EDs), including enuresis and encopresis, cause significant distress and psychosocial consequences for children and adolescents.
• Maternal attitudes and family dynamics play a crucial role in the well-being of children experiencing EDs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of abusive maternal attitudes in children and adolescents with EDs.
• To investigate psychological and socio-cultural factors in mothers associated with abusive parenting in ED cases.

Main Methods:

• A sample of 180 children diagnosed with EDs was assessed.
• Mothers completed the Family Assessment Device (FAD) and Symptom Check List (SCL-90-R).

Main Results:

• A high prevalence of abusive maternal attitudes was observed, affecting 73.8% of the studied sample.
• Children with EDs from low-educated, low socioeconomic status, or disorganized/divorced families were at higher risk.
• Specific risk factors identified include parental education level (p=0.008), socioeconomic status (p=0.014), and family structure (p=0.014).

Conclusions:

• High rates of abusive parenting attitudes are associated with elimination disorders in Turkish children and adolescents.
• The family environment is critical in the etiology and treatment of EDs referred to psychiatric clinics.
• Further research is warranted to explore the family's etiological and therapeutic significance in ED management.