Behavioural problems in children and parenting stress associated with primary nocturnal enuresis in Hong Kong.
The aim of this study was to investigate the behavioural problems and parenting stress of enuretic children in the local Chinese community. The study recruited 89 children with primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE) from the paediatric clinics of 9 regional hospitals in Hong Kong, and 131 age- and gender-matched control children without PNE from the Student Health Centres. After adequate instruction, the parents completed the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) and Parenting Stress Index (PSI). A trained interviewer interviewed the parents and children and rated the children on the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF). The PNE group had worse overall scores in both the Problem and Competence scales of CBCL; in particular, they had more attention problems and aggressive behaviours, and lower social competence and school performance than the control group. Their parents demonstrated more parenting stress as shown by higher PSI scores.


CONCLUSIONS
In the local Chinese population, PNE was associated with more childhood behavioural problems and greater parenting stress. Attention to the psychosocial functioning of the child and parents may be important in the management of enuresis.
Chang
S S Y
SS
Kwai Chung Hospital, Hong Kong.
Ng
C F N
CF
Wong
S N
SN
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D004775:Enuresis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*