Early Childhood Psycho-trauma and Psychological Immunity among Children with Nocturnal Enuresis

El Sayed Hassan Ibrahim El-Azzab, Saida; Elsayed Gaber Behilak, Sahar; Taha Ahmed, Abeer

doi:10.21608/ejhc.2023.286170

Early Childhood Psycho-trauma and Psychological Immunity among Children with Nocturnal Enuresis

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Assistant Professor of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Beni-Suef University, Egypt

² Assistant Professor of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, Egypt

³ Lecturer of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Cairo University, Egypt.

10.21608/ejhc.2023.286170

Abstract

Background: Nocturnal enuresis is a frequent urologic pediatric disorder. Early childhood stressors and their
psychological immunity may play a crucial role in the etiology of nocturnal enuresis. Aim: To study relationships
between early childhood psycho-trauma and psychological immunity among children with nocturnal enuresis.
Design: Descriptive correlational design with quantitative methodology was used. Sample: A purposive sampling
technique of two hundred and sixty children with nocturnal enuresis. Settings: This study was carried out in the
outpatient clinics of two hospitals; Psychiatry and Addiction Prevention Hospital-Cairo University Hospitals
(Children’s and Adolescents Clinic) and Preventive Medicine Hospital in Abo El-Rish hospital (Nocturnal Enuresis
and Psychiatric Clinic). Tools: Personal and clinical data sheet, Childhood Trauma History Questionnaire-Short
Form and Psychological Immunity Scale were utilized. Results: The majority of sample had low level of
psychological immunity scores (85.4 and 82.3%) respectively in adaptive confrontation and self-regulation
dimensions. As the majority of sample experienced moderate levels of emotional abuse and neglect (100% and
72.3%) respectively, (76.2%) had moderate levels of physical abuse, while 23.8% were suffering high levels of
physical abuse score. As that, there were significant negative relationship between all dimensions of psychological
immunity and three dimensions of early childhood trauma as emotional, physical and sexual abuse (P-value = 0.004,
0.002 and 0.0001 respectively). Conclusion: There were moderate and high levels of early childhood trauma history
among the children with nocturnal enuresis while there were low levels of psychological immunity among those
children. There was a significant negative correlation between the total score of early childhood trauma history and
psychological immunity. Recommendations: A nursing intervention program for children with nocturnal enuresis
to enhance their psychological immunity and reduce early child maltreatment levels.

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