MATERNAL CHILD-REARING AND HYGIENIC PRACT ICES AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SIBLINGS FOR ALLERGIC AND NONALLERGIC CHILDREN

Applying a modified version of the ''Hamburger Erziehungsverhaltenslis te'' (Baumgartel, 1979) on maternal child rearing behaviour and a self constructed questionnaire on toilet-training (retrospective) and hygi ene-related behaviours 302 mothers of pupils (10-14 yrs) were tested a nonymously, to look for differences between children with (n = 84) and without (Nh; n = 302) medically-diagnosed allergy. Groups did nor dif fer in sociodemographics, duration oi breastfeeding, and receipt of ce real nutrition. Several findings (reduced maternal affection for middl e-children, which was only found in allergics; birth of a sibling brin g the must frequent incisive event around the time bf onset; number of allergies increasing with the number of siblings, especially with you nger siblings) underlined the relevance of siblings for allergics. In males there were no differences between allergics and Nh being worth m entioning. Contrary, mothers of female allergics less frequently stare d negative child rearing behaviour (anger, punishment), reported less conflicts in toiler-training and sooner ending of nocturnal defecation . Mothers of allergic children spent more rime on their own personal b ody hygiene.