Helping hospitalized preschoolers manage stressful situations: the mother's role

This study examined mothers' perceptions of the most stressful situation their children experienced during hospitalization and how they and the children responded in these situations. The mothers described four types of situations; the most prevalent were intrusive procedures and separation events. The most frequent coping behaviors they described were seeking others, eliciting help, controlling, and self protection behaviors. The predominant strategies the mothers used to help their children were Providing Comfort and Providing Information. The mothers' emotional responses to their children's behaviors included both pleasant and unpleasant affective states. Implications for practice and research are addressed.