Detailed Assessment of Incontinence, Psychological Problems and Parental Stress in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
One in six autistic kids wet themselves by day or night, and their parents feel the pressure.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Niemczyk et al. (2019) checked kids with autism for wetting problems. They also asked about other mental health issues and how stressed the parents felt.
The team compared these kids to a group without autism. They wanted to see if wetting pants linked to more stress.
What they found
About 16 % of the autistic kids wet the bed. Another 16 % leaked during the day. Both numbers are higher than in the control group.
Parents of these kids said they felt more stress. The kids also had more extra mental health diagnoses.
How this fits with other research
Rivard et al. (2014) already showed that dads of autistic kids feel extra stress. Justine adds that wetting issues make that stress even bigger.
Aznar et al. (2005) pointed to autism itself as the main driver of mom stress. Justine agrees, but shows that wetting problems pile on top.
Wang et al. (2022) found that mindful parenting can lower stress. Justine’s data remind us there is real stress to lower in the first place.
Why it matters
If you serve autistic kids, add two quick questions to your intake: “Any bed-wetting?” and “Any day leaks?” A simple “yes” flags extra family stress. You can then teach toilet skills or refer to a urologist, while giving mom and dad extra support from day one.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Incontinence, psychological symptoms, parental stress and psychopathology were examined in 51 children (43 boys, mean age = 9.7 years) presented in an outpatient clinic for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and in 53 matched controls (43 boys, mean age = 10.2 years). All children were clinically assessed for ASD, incontinence and psychopathology according to current guidelines. ASD was confirmed in 37 children and excluded in 14. Enuresis (16.2%) and daytime urinary incontinence (16.2%), but not fecal incontinence (8.2%) were more common in ASD than in controls. Children with ASD showed significantly more comorbid psychiatric disorders. Parents of children with ASD experience more stress. Parental stress was predicted by parental psychopathology, role restriction and group (patient/control), but not by incontinence.
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2019 · doi:10.1007/s10803-019-03885-6