title: Time-trend changes and psychological risk factors for soiling: findings from the Finnish 16-year time-trend study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study changes and associated risk factors in 8-year-old children's soiling at three time points: 1989, 1999 and 2005.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three cross-sectional representative samples were compared. All children born in 1981 (1989 sample, n = 1038), 1991 (1999 sample, n = 1035) and 1997 (2005 sample, n = 1030) living in selected school districts in south-west Finland served as study samples. Parents were asked about the child's soiling at age eight. Information about parental education level, family structure and child psychopathology was obtained from parents, teachers and children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of soiling among 8-year-old boys was very similar (1989/1999/2005: 4.9%/4.9%/4.5%) while among girls the prevalence increased (1.0%/2.9%/3.7%; p < 0.05) during the 16-year period. Living in a non-intact family and mother's lower education level were associated with soiling among boys, while a high level of conduct, emotional and self-reported depressive symptoms was associated with soiling among girls. Hyperactivity symptoms were associated with soiling among both boys and girls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study shows an increase in prevalence of soiling among girls. Soiling among girls is associated with psychiatric problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Psychiatry, Turku University and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland. andsou@utu.fi
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sourander
mesh_terms: D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002665:Child Psychiatry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003672:Defecation; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011594:Psychometrics; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013996:Time and Motion Studies