Self-construing in children with primary mono-symptomatic nocturnal enuresis--an investigation of three measures.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to measure different aspects of self-construing in children with primary mono-symptomatic nocturnal enuresis.

METHOD

25 children aged 7-14 years, with nocturnal enuresis were recruited from a paediatric outpatient's unit specialising in enuresis [mean age 10.6 [males], 9.39 [females]] and 25 children acting as controls, were recruited from one primary and one secondary school [mean age 10.08 [males], 9.39 [females]].

MEASURES

The Butler Self Image Profile [SIP], Coopersmith Self Esteem Inventory, Ouvinen-Birgerstam "I think I am" Self Perception Scale were administered.

DESIGN

This study was a matched controlled group comparison.

RESULTS

The only significant difference was the tendency for children with enuresis to construe themselves more negatively on the SIP. There were no significant differences between children with enuresis and the matched controls on all the other measures.

CONCLUSION

Children with nocturnal enuresis generally perceive themselves similar to children without nocturnal enuresis, and are not "psychologically or emotionally disturbed." It is important to assess a child's self-construing in order to identify those children who are more vulnerable to a lower self-esteem. Future research needs to take into account self-construing in different clinical populations, i.e. those children who have non-mono symptomatic nocturnal enuresis.