Behavioral Problems And Related Factors In School-age Children With Chronic Cough

ObjectiveTo study on the behavior problems and related factors in school-age children with chronic cough,provide the evidence for early psychological and behavioral intervention and clinical comprehensive treatment.MethodsWe collected 100 cases of school-age children with chronic cough as observe group,they were 8-12 years old,including 57 males and 43 females.And We collected 100 healthy children aged 8-12 years old as control group,including 51 males and 49 females,and the healthy children were sampled as control group matched by sex,age,mother's educational level and family income etc.Two groups of children and their mothers were investigated by self-edited general situation questionnaire,Conners Parent Symptom Questionnaire(PSQ),Chinese School Children Temperament Scale(CSTS),Self-Rating Anxiety Scale(SAS),Self-Rating Depression Scale(SDS),Symptom Checklist-90(SCL-90)and Family Assessment Device(FAD).We had analyzed the statistic with SPSS 24.0 version.And descriptive analysis,sample t test,variance analysis(ANOVA),chi-square and multiple stepwise regression analysis were used for statistical analysis.Results1?General comparison:There were no significant different between two groups in age,sex,mothers' educational level,maternal age,family income etc.(P>0.05).5 items(children age,hospitalization frequency,hospitalization days annually,days of absence,and course)have positive correlation with the total score of Conners Parent Symptom Questionnaire.While the mothers' educational level and children's outdoor activity times daily have negative correlation with total score of Conners Parent Symptom Questionnaire.2?The behavioral problems of children with chronic cough:Based on the national norm in 2001,the detection rate of behavior problems was 22%in children with chronic cough,which was significantly higher than that in control group's 8%,and the difference was significant(p=0.006).The detection rate of boys' behavior problems was 29.82%,and the detection rate of girls' behavioral problems was 11.63%,the difference was statistically significant(p=0.03).The scores of chronic cough children in conduct problem,learning problem,psychosomatic problem,impulsivity-hyperactivity,anxiety,hyperactivity index were higher than that of the control group(p<0.05).Significant difference was found between different grade of chronic cough group,and grade five had the highest incidence of behavioral problems.3.The temperament characteristics:The composition of temperament types of children with chronic cough were:easy type(18%),intermediate-easy type(28%),intermediate-difficult type(29%),difficult type(15%),slow to warm up type(10%);The temperament types of the control group were as follows:easy type(37%),intermediate-easy type(39%),intermediate-difficult type(15%),difficult type(6%),slow to warm up type(3%),the distribution difference was statistically significant.The scores of activity level,adaptability,response intensity,threshold and mood states were higher than that in the control group,and the differences were statistically significant.There was a positive correlation between temperament of phobotaxis and impulsivity and hyperactivity.And the children's behavior problems,impulsivity and hyperactivity,hyperactivity index and total score had positive correlation with adaptability,response intensity and state of mind.4.Families function of children with chronic cough:Significant differences between chronic cough group and the control group were found in 4 factors,including communication,roles,affective responsiveness,affective involvement,behavior control and general functioning.And no significant difference was found in problem solving.There was no significant correlation between family function and the behavior problems of children.5?The psychological status of the mothers:The scores of Self-Rating Anxiety Scale(SAS)and Self-Rating Depression Scale(SDS)in chronic cough group were significantly higher than the control group.And the score of mothers' SCL-90 showed a significantly difference between two groups,which mainly in somatization,obsessive-compulsive behavior,interpersonal sensitivity,phobic anxiety,hostility,psychoticism.What's more,in chronic cough group total score and 5 items(conduct problem,learning problems,impulsivity and hyperactivity,anxiety,hyperactivity index)of children's behavioral problems had positive correlation with SAS and SDS of their mothers',but had low correlation with psychosomatic problems.In the mother's symptom checklist(SCL-90),every items have positive correlation with children's behavioral problems besides somatization.6.The result of multiple stepwise regression analysis:The total score of Conners scale for children with chronic cough was dependent variable and 21 items related to the behavior of children with chronic cough as independent variables.Using stepwise method,finally enter in the equation are times of hospitalization annually,course,SAS score and state of mind.Conclusions1?School age children with chronic cough show more behavioral problems than healthy children.2?Mothers of children with chronic cough are more likely to have mental health problems than mothers of normal children.3?The behavior problems of school-age children with chronic cough are affected by many factors,which are closely related to the children's age,sex,frequency of hospitalization,hospitalization days,days absent,the course of chronic cough,the temperament of children,psychological status of the mothers,mothers' educational level and children's daily outdoor activity time.Among them,easy type temperament,high educational level of mothers and adequate outdoor activities are protective factors.