Children, young people and adults with bladder/bowel problems, and parents/carers of children with bladder and bowel problems will benefit through raising the profile of these common and distressing health problems. A greater understanding of psychological factors in the aetiology of bladder/bowel problems could help to ensure appropriate psychological support is offered. An increased understanding of the origins of bladder/bowel problems and potentially modifiable factors in childhood could prevent these problems from becoming chronic and avert secondary impacts on quality of life. Clinicians in paediatric and adult continence services (urologists, nephrologists, pediatricians, psychiatrists, GPs, nurses, health visitors, urotherapists, gastroenterologists, colo-rectal specialists, uro-gynaecologists) will benefit from our contribution to the evidence base relating to the effect of psychological factors on bladder/bowel problems. Clinicians have long suspected that psychological factors are involved in bladder/bowel problems, but the exact nature of the relationship is unknown. If psychological factors do have causal effects on bladder and bowel problems, this could inform intervention development. Our contribution to the evidence base will also benefit stakeholders involved in designing paediatric and adult continence services and care pathways (Department of Health, NHS, NICE, ChiMat, policy makers, commissioners). Psychological interventions could help to relieve the persistence and treatment resistance that often characterise bladder/bowel problems, and this could ultimately help the NHS make better use of its resources. Researchers (epidemiologists, clinical academics, psychologists, statisticians) will benefit through signficant advances in understanding of the effects of psychological factors on bladder/bowel problems and the application of causal inference methods. The statistician employed on the project will develop research skills that will be invaluable in his career development. The Prevention of Lower Urinary Symptoms (LUTS) in Women (PLUS) Consortium (a US consortium which aims to conduct research to inform prevention and intervention studies for LUTS in females to improve prevention and intervention strategies) will benefit through us sharing findings, methods and expertise with Consortium members from a wide range of disciplines (medicine, nursing, epidemiology, biostatistics, social work, clinical practice, community health, sociology). Our research has the potential to contribute to the PLUS consortium's overall goal of improving prevention and intervention strategies for LUTS in females. Professional organisations and charities (Royal College of Nursing; Community Practitioners and Health Visitors Association; International Children's Continence Society; International Continence Society; The Paediatric Continence Forum; Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland; The Pelvic Floor Society; Regional Pelvic Floor Multidisciplinary Team; British Society of Gastroenterology; School and Public Health Nurses Association; South West Paediatric Bladder and Bowel Care Group; The Children's Bowel and Bladder Charity; Bladder and Bowel UK; The Bladder & Bowel Community; The Urology Foundation; Core; Bowel Disease Research Foundation) will benefit through us providing empirical evidence to help them advance professional and public understanding of bladder/bowel problems. This will help these organisiations achieve their aim of providing support for and improving quality of life for children, young people and adults with bladder and bowel problems. The research will increase awareness and understanding among teachers and school nurses of the complex needs of children with continence problems and associated psychological issues experienced by these children. This will help them to provide better support for these children at school to allow them to reach their potential.