Citation

Joinson C, Sullivan S, von Gontard A, Heron J. J. Pediatr. Psychol. 2016; 41(9): 1002-1010.

Affiliation

School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/jpepsy/jsw025

PMID

27072719

Abstract

OBJECTIVE : To examine whether early stressful events are associated with developmental trajectories of bedwetting.  METHODS : This is a prospective cohort study comprising 8,761 participants from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Stressful events were measured using a maternal questionnaire completed at 3 time points before their child was 4 years old. The association between stressful events and trajectories of bedwetting from 4 to 9 years was examined using multinomial regression.  RESULTS : The association with stressful events was strongest for the frequent persistent bedwetting trajectory (wetting at least twice a week up to age 9). A 1 standard deviation increase in the stressful events score was associated with a 29% (13-47%) increase in the odds of experiencing frequent persistent bedwetting compared with normal attainment of nighttime bladder control.  CONCLUSIONS : Clinicians and parents should be aware that continence is a developmental outcome that is associated with high levels of stress in the family.

© The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Pediatric Psychology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Language: en