Evaluation of Impact of Enuresis on Quality of Parental Reaction Towards Their Enuretic Children: A Comparison of Mothers With Fathers

Egypt. J. Psychiatry, June 2009; 29(2): 65-70 Background: Nocturnal enuresis (NE) is a chronic medical disorder that is distressing for children and their parents. Aim of the study: to investigate the impact of enuresis on parent-child relationship, parental satisfaction and parental tolerance. Subjects & Methods: This study was performed on parents who have enuretic children selected from those applied for treatment at the child psychiatry out-patient clinic. Questionnaires used were Parental tolerance scale (PTS), Index of parental attitude (IPA), and Scale of parental satisfaction (KPS). Results: The subjects consisted of group1 (60 mothers) and group 2 (42 fathers). Most of children in the two groups were in the 3rd birth order, and had 3 or 4 brothers or sisters. Mothers were significantly holding higher degree of education than fathers. Both mothers and fathers were intolerant to EN, experienced moderate degree of parental satisfaction, but showed clinically significant problem (According to IPA score) in relating with their enuretic children but did not reach the level of violence to deal with problems. This finding was statistically worse in fathers rather than mothers (P=0.001). Mothers were significantly more supportive to their enuretic children than fathers (P=0.001). Conclusion: Enuresis affects quality of relation between parents and the enuretic child. So, in treating children with enuresis, it is important to assess and mange the parents’ reaction which consequently improve treatment adherence and effectiveness.