Abstract
Parents of 423 school age children (60-144 mo.) were surveyed by questionnaire to assess the relationship between temperamental characteristics and selected somatic dysfunctions. From questionnaire responses 3 experimental groups were identified: current nocturnal enuresis (N=26), past history of nocturnal enuresis (N=18) and current encopresis (N=12). Each subject was matched with a control without somatic dysfunction for age, sex, grade & school. Parents of all subjects completed the Parent Impression of Temperamental Traits (PITT) a behavior rating scale which generated raw scores for 9 standard temperamental variables. PITT scores correlated favorably with the Carey Behavioral Style Questionnaire for all characteristics except mood.
One-way analyses of variance (Som. Dysf. Group × Temperamental Variable) demonstrated that there was no interaction of individual groups by temperamental trait. The combined somatic dysfunction group differed (p<.05) from controls on 3 variables: low adaptability (F=4.44); negative mood (F=4.55), low persistence (F=4.16)
These results suggest a characteristic temperamental profile for children who manifest two of the more common somatic dysfunctions of childhood. Characterization of a child's temperamental profile may be used to facilitate identification of children at risk for selected somatic dysfunction, assist in anticipatory guidance around toilet training issues and refine the behavioral treatment of children with manifest somatic dysfunction.
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Murphy, T., Liden, C., Krak, E. et al. 81 TEMPERAMENTAL PROFILE OF CHILDREN WITH ENURESIS AND ENCOPRESIS. Pediatr Res 15 (Suppl 4), 453 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-00090
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-00090