RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To study the psychological profile of mothers who overuse pediatric services and associated social and demographic characteristics, as well as to evaluate the association between maternal personality profile and greater use of pediatric services. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Cross-sectional descriptive study, at the Basic Health Areas of Granollers Sud and Granollers Oest-Canovelles in Barcelona (Spain). SUBJECTS: Forty-four mothers, representing 21.5 % of the population meeting the inclusion criteria were studied. The population consisted of mothers of children who visited the center on an equal or higher number of occasions as two standard deviations. PROCEDURE: One-hour interviews were conducted. A data sheet to assess social and demographic variables, Milton's Multiaxial Inventory II, and Goldberg's Anxiety and Depression Scale to detect symptoms of depression and anxiety were administered. RESULTS: Forty-four mothers (21.5 %) attended the interviews. The mean age was 36.6 years. Most of the mothers (90.9 %) were married, 73 % had completed primary studies, 5 % were housewives, and 75 % had no family support. Fifty percent of the children were the youngest in their family, and 30 % were only children. Concerning personality disorders, 55.8 % of overusing mothers showed compulsive personality, 30.23 % schizoid personality, and 14 % dependent personality while 47.7 % of mothers presented significant symptoms of anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: Sociodemographic profile, anxiety, and maternal personality profile are related to overuse of pediatric services. Compulsive, schizoid and dependent personality disorders seem to be associated with overuse.
