Anxiety of non-rooming-in parents of hospitalized children

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 4, 2026

The Successive Alleys Test of Anxiety in Mice and Rats
05:05

The Successive Alleys Test of Anxiety in Mice and Rats

Published on: June 17, 2013

D Alexander, M White, G Powell

    Children'S Health Care : Journal of the Association for the Care of Children'S Health
    |February 4, 1987
    PubMed

    Insights

    Parental anxiety increases with longer hospitalizations, especially when other children are home. Reduced visits and lower socioeconomic status also heighten parental stress during a child's hospital stay.

    Area of Science:

    • Pediatric Psychology
    • Family Studies
    • Healthcare Management

    Background:

    • Parental anxiety is a significant factor in pediatric healthcare.
    • The impact of non-rooming-in policies on parental stress is not fully understood.
    • Hospitalization presents unique challenges for families with young children.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To examine parental anxiety levels in parents of hospitalized children who did not room in.
    • To identify factors associated with increased parental anxiety during pediatric hospitalization.
    • To understand the relationship between visitation frequency and parental stress.

    Main Methods:

    • Utilized the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for anxiety measurement.
    • Assessed 51 parents of young hospitalized children over a 3-day interval.
    • Correlated anxiety levels with demographic factors and hospitalization variables.

    Main Results:

    • Higher parental anxiety was linked to more children at home, lower education, and lower social status.
    • Increased child hospitalization duration correlated with greater parental anxiety, particularly when other children were present.
    • Fathers reported higher stress than mothers, and decreased visit frequency was associated with increased anxiety.

    Conclusions:

    • Parental anxiety is influenced by socioeconomic factors, family structure, and hospitalization duration.
    • Hospital policies and visitation practices significantly impact parental well-being.
    • Targeted support for parents, especially fathers, and flexible visitation are crucial during pediatric hospitalizations.

    More Related Videos

    Social Isolation Model: A Noninvasive Rodent Model of Stress and Anxiety04:20

    Social Isolation Model: A Noninvasive Rodent Model of Stress and Anxiety

    Published on: November 11, 2022

    Related Concept Videos

    Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood03:34

    Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood

    Attachment is a long-standing connection or bond with others. While Attachment Theory was conceived in developmental psychology to describe infant-caregiver bonding, it's been extended into adulthood to include romantic relationships.
    Anxiety: Overview01:18

    Anxiety: Overview

    Anxiety is a common mental disorder featuring excessive worry, fear, and apprehension, significantly affecting daily life. People with anxiety disorders experience persistent and intense anxiety, interrupting their everyday functioning.
    Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
    Nightmares and Night Terrors01:18

    Nightmares and Night Terrors

    Nightmares and night terrors represent two distinct types of sleep disturbances that differ in timing, characteristics, and the sleeper's recall of the event. Nightmares are vivid, disturbing dreams that usually awaken the sleeper from REM sleep, a stage of sleep where brain activity is high, and dreams are most frequent. Upon awakening, individuals often have detailed recollections of their nightmares, which can include themes of threats to survival, security, or self-esteem.
    Nightmares often...
    Piaget's Stage 1 of Cognitive Development01:14

    Piaget's Stage 1 of Cognitive Development

    The sensorimotor stage, the initial phase of Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, spans the first two years of a child's life. During this period, infants actively engage with their surroundings, building cognitive awareness through direct interaction with the world. This interaction is primarily based on sensory perception and motor actions, allowing infants to gradually understand basic physical properties and predict how objects interact within their environment.
    Exploration...
    Generalized Anxiety Disorder01:30

    Generalized Anxiety Disorder

    Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a chronic condition characterized by excessive and uncontrollable worry that persists for at least six months, significantly interfering with daily functioning. Unlike situational anxiety, which arises in response to specific stressors, GAD often occurs without a clear cause. Individuals may experience disproportionate worry about work, health, or relationships. For instance, a person might continuously fear poor health despite normal medical evaluations or...
    Social Anxiety Disorder01:28

    Social Anxiety Disorder

    Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is characterized by an intense fear of social situations where one might face humiliation, rejection, embarrassment, or negative evaluation. This disorder leads individuals to avoid activities like casual conversations, public speaking, or seemingly simple tasks such as eating, signing documents, or swimming, in public settings. Its impact extends beyond discomfort, often significantly interfering with daily functioning and quality of life.