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Clinical, psychological and maternal characteristics in early functional constipation
Author(s) -
Kilincaslan Huseyin,
Abali Osman,
Demirkaya Sevcan Karakoc,
Bilici Mustafa
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
pediatrics international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.49
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1442-200X
pISSN - 1328-8067
DOI - 10.1111/ped.12282
Subject(s) - medicine , functional constipation , psychopathology , checklist , logistic regression , constipation , child behavior checklist , distress , emotional distress , clinical psychology , psychological distress , cbcl , pediatrics , psychiatry , anxiety , psychology , cognitive psychology
Background This cross‐sectional study investigated the clinical features of functional constipation ( FC ) at preschool age, as well as emotional and behavioral characteristics of the children, psychological symptom level and parental attitudes of the mothers, and compared these with that of non‐referred typically developing controls with normal intestinal habits. Methods Participants included 65 children with FC (mean age, 43.6 ± 15.4 months; range, 25–72 months), 59 healthy controls (mean age, 46.9 ± 14.5 months; range, 25–72 months) and the mothers of the children. The Childhood Behavior Checklist, Symptom Checklist 90 and Parental Attitude Research Instrument were filled in by the mothers. Results Participants with FC had higher problem scores than the comparison children in a variety of emotional and behavioral parameters. Approximately half exhibited internalizing and one‐third had externalizing problems in the clinical range. The mothers of the patient group had higher levels of psychological distress, overprotective parenting and strict discipline. On multiple logistic regression analysis child psychopathology, maternal education level and maternal distress were independently associated with FC . Conclusion Behavior problems are common in children with FC from an early age. Low level of education and high psychological distress of the mothers seem to be important risk factors for constipation and should be assessed carefully in the management of these cases.