Behavioral characteristics of children with stool toileting refusal.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if children with stool toileting refusal have more behavior problems than matched children who are toilet trained.

DESIGN: Case-control study.

SETTING: Suburban private pediatric practice.

PARTICIPANTS: Children 30 to 48 months old who had achieved bladder control but refused to defecate on the toilet were identified as cases. Controls were sex- and age-matched children who were fully toilet trained.

MEASURES: Total behavior problems were assessed using a semi-structured behavior screening interview with the child's parents. The parents also completed the Child Behavior Checklist for ages 2 to 4 and either the Toddler Temperament Scale (30 to 36 months old) or the Behavioral Style Questionnaire (36 to 48 months old). Child compliance with adult instructions was measured during a room clean-up task.

RESULTS: Children with stool toileting refusal were not found to have more behavior problems than the matched children who were toilet trained. There were no differences between the two groups in compliance during the room clean-up task. There was a trend toward children with stool toileting refusal having a more difficult temperament, and these children were reported to have more problems with constipation and painful bowel movements than the controls.

CONCLUSIONS: Children with stool toileting refusal do not have more behavior problems than controls who are toilet trained. Parents do report higher rates of constipation and painful defecation, but it is not clear whether this is a cause or effect of stool toileting refusal.