THE ASSOCIATIONS OF EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS OF CHILDREN WITH CHILDHOOD MASTURBATION AND THEIR MOTHERS’ ATTITUDES AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS

Objective :

The aim of this study was to investigate the relation of emotional and behavioral problems of childhood masturbation cases with their mothers’ attitudes and psychological symptoms.

Method:

The study group consisted of 26 cases (16 girls+10 boys) between the ages of 4-8 years who were referred to our outpatient clinic with childhood masturbation and their mothers. The first control group consisted of 16 children (8 girls+8 boys) between the ages of 4-7 years who had other psychiatric diagnoses and their mothers and the second control group consisted of 21 children (10 girls+11 boys) between the ages of 5-8 years who did not have any psychiatric diagnoses and their mothers. Child and Adolescent Behavior Check List (CBCL) for 4-18 years of age was used to evaluate the emotional and behavioral problems of the children, Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) was used for the self assessment of the mothers’ own psychological symptoms and Parent Attitude Rating Inventory (PARI) scale was used for the assessment of their attitudes toward their children.The intelligence quotient (IQ) of the children were determined by using Stanford Binet Scale for Intelligence.

Results:

Cases with childhood masturbation had significantly higher scores from the subscales of thought disturbances, delinquent and aggressive behavior, sexual problems and externalizing behaviors when compared with the children in the control groups. There were significant correlations between CBCL scores and positive symptom total points of the mothers’ BSI, as well as between PARI scores and CBCL scores.

Discussion:

Although the small number of cases limits the interpretation of these results, our study showed the importance of bodily contact and emotional support to children with childhood masturbation.