Children from nuclear families with bad parental relationship could develop tic symptoms

Studies have reported the impact of chronic childhood and adolescent tic disorder (TD) on families. However, few researches focused on the relationship between family environment and diagnosis of TD. We aim to assess the influence of couple relationship and family structure on the onset of TD.

A total of 660 parents of patients with TD (aged 6-12 years) and 641 parents of controls completed questionnaires. Couple relationship and family structure were selected by regression of binary logistic analysis as the risk factors. Couple relationship was divided into the harmonious, common, hostile, and divorced. Family structure included unconventional family, nuclear family, and unite family. Multivariate correspondence analysis was designed to explore relationships among categorical variables of couple relationship and family structure.

There were significant associations between TD and couple relationship (Exp B = 1.310, p = .006, 95% CI = 1.080-1.590), family structure (Exp B = 0.668, p = .001, 95% CI = 0.526 ~ 0.847), gender (Exp B = 0.194, p < .001, 95% CI = 0.149-0.254), respectively. Obviously contradicted and common couple relationships were risk factors for TD compared with the harmonious and divorced. Children form unconventional family or nuclear family were prone to develop TD. Interestingly, divorced parents had the same protective effect as harmonious parents. The OR value could increase with the number and level of those risk factors.

In conclusion, children from nuclear families with bad parental relationship could be more likely to develop tic symptoms. The family intervention of children with TD should focus on family structure and parental relationship.