Childhood chronic constipation is a highly prevalent and pervasive condition,

affecting over 30% of children in the UK. The majority of constipation cases in children do

not have an identifiable underlying biological or medical cause, and encompass a complex

biopsychosocial response, however this has not been recognised until recently. At present,

there is little acknowledgement of the psychological impact of this condition on the child and

family, with statutory guidance emphasising a medicalised approach to care. This research

portfolio aims to contribute to the expanding evidence-base that psychological intervention is

an essential aspect of care for families living with childhood chronic constipation.

Part A presents the first empirical project, a qualitative study exploring parental

psychological and healthcare experiences when living with childhood chronic constipation.

The findings of this study highlighted the huge impact that chronic constipation has on child

and family quality of life, including dictation of routines and detrimental impacts on parental

wellbeing. In addition, parents spoke of the challenges associated with accessing healthcare

support for their child’s condition, particularly within primary care services.

Part B presents the second empirical project, a mixed methods study investigating the

impact of a self-help psychological resource on quality of life when living with childhood

chronic constipation. The significant results of this study demonstrated that psychological

intervention is key in supporting families with this condition, with reported increases in child

and family quality of life, alongside parental wellbeing.