Demographic characteristics
| FC (n=228) | Controls (n=153) | P value | |
| Child characteristics | |||
| Age in years, median (IQR)* | 6 (5–8.8) | 6 (5–8) | 0.34 |
| Girls, n (%)† | 112 (49.1) | 79 (51.6) | 0.63 |
| Faecal incontinence n (%) | 177 (77.6) | – | – |
| Duration symptoms in years, median (IQR) | 4 (2–6) | – | – |
| Behavioural problems, n (%) | 17 (7.6) | – | – |
| Abnormalities during physical examination suspect for CAN, n (%)‡ | 64 (28.1) | – | – |
| Anxiety/depression symptoms, n (%)§¶ | 6 (2.6) | 0 (0.0) | 0.09 |
| PTSD symptoms, n (%)**† | 15 (7.0) | 4 (2.9) | 0.09 |
| Parental characteristics | |||
| Parent(s) Dutch origin, n (%)† | 177 (83.1) | 126 (86.3) | 0.46 |
| Parent(s) low education††, n (%)† | 149 (66.2) | 48 (32.7) | (is less than sign) 0.001 |
| Parent(s) history abuse, n (%)† | 28 (13.7) | 9 (6.4) | 0.03 |
| Parent(s) history domestic violence, n (%)† | 21 (10.3) | 6 (4.2) | 0.04 |
| Parent(s) daily alcohol use, n (%)† | 23 (18.0) | 18 (15.7) | 0.63 |
| Parent(s) drug abuse, n (%)† | 11 (5.2) | 4 (2.8) | 0.27 |
| Parent(s) mental health problems, n (%)† | 75 (35.4) | 28 (19.6) | 0.001 |
*Mann-Whitney U test.
†Pearson χ2 test
‡According to physician, includes abnormal behaviour during examination (n=34), refusal of examination (n=17), haematomas (n=10) anal fissures (n=8), abnormal interaction between parent and child (n=5).
§According to the RCADS/RCADS-P questionnaires.
¶Fisher’s exact test.
**According to the TSCYC/TSCC questionnaires.
††<college or university degree.
-, not applicable; ADHD, autism and anxiety disorder; CAN, child abuse and neglect; FC, functional constipation; PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder; RCADS-P, Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale-Parent Version; TSCC, Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children; TSCYC, Trauma Symptom Checklist for Young Children.