Correlation of Parents’ Emotional Intelligence with Enuresis in Children

Abstract

Background: Parents’ emotional intelligence comprises their prior knowledge, IQ, and technical or professional skills, which can influence chidlren’s emotional dimensions and lead to voiding dysfunction. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between parents’ emotional intelligence and enuresis in children for a more effective management of this problem. Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 200 children (age range, 5 - 16 years) in Amir Kabir hospital. The case group consisted of 100 children with nocturnal enuresis, and the control group included 100 healthy children. The demographic and emotional intelligence questionares were completed by children and their parents. Also, emotional status was analyzed, based on the global emotional quotient inventory (EQ-i), which was completed by the parents. Finally, the data were compared between the case and control groups. Results: The demographic characteristics were not significantly different between the groups (P > 0.05). All indicators of emotional intelligence were significantly different between the case and control groups (P = 0.001). Different aspects of parents’ emotional intelligence, including problem-solving, happiness, independence, stress tolerance, self-actualization, emotional awareness, realism, interpersonal relationships, optimism, self-respect, continence, flexibility, responsibility, sympathy, and self-expression were significantly different between the groups (P = 0.001). Conclusions: Attention to the parents’ emotional intelligence may be important in the management of enuresis, and we can reduce the duration of nocturnal enuresis by raising the parents’ emotional intelligence.