BED-WETTING IN US CHILDREN - EPIDEMIOLOGY AND RELATED BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS

Objective. To better understand the epidemiology and behavioral correl ates of bed-wetting in a nationally representative sample of children. Method. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses of cr oss-sectional data regarding 10 960 children aged 5 through 17 years f rom the 1981 Child Health Supplement to the National Health Interview Survey. Behavior problems were determined by extreme scores on a 32-it em Behavior Problem Index (BPI, >90th percentile). Results. Bed-wettin g was reported in 33% of 5-, 18% of 8-, 7% of 11-, and 0.7% of 17-year -olds. At all ages, infrequent bed-wetting (fewer than six episodes pe r year) accounted for half of all reported bed-wetting. Lower age, mal e gender, and extreme scores on the BPI all were independently associa ted with both infrequent and frequent bed-wetting. Extreme scores on t he BPI were more common among children with bed-wetting than those who did not wet the bed, and the risk for this was similar among children with infrequent and frequent bed-wetting (adjusted odds ratios, 1.8 a nd 1.7, respectively). Parents' perceived need for help with emotional and behavioral problems, however, was increased only among children w ith frequent bed-wetting. Conclusions. Bed-wetting in children aged 5 years and older, irrespective of its frequency, is associated with inc reased rates of behavior problems. Thus, although infrequent bed-wetti ng may not warrant medical intervention, this condition should prompt health care providers to explore behavioral issues in greater depth.