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The presence of security blankets or mothers (or both) affects distress during pediatric examinations
G J Ybarra1, R H Passman, C S Eisenberg
1Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 53201, USA.
Insights
Blankets can comfort children during medical exams, acting as maternal substitutes for those attached to them. Examining children without any support agent is not advised, as it increases distress.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Medicine
- Developmental Psychology
- Attachment Theory
Background:
- Pediatricians sometimes prefer to examine children without parents present to avoid interference.
- The role of attachment figures in mitigating child distress during medical procedures is well-established.
- The potential of inanimate objects as attachment agents for soothing children is less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether inanimate attachment agents can placate children during medical evaluations.
- To compare the effectiveness of mothers, blankets, and a combination of both in reducing child distress.
- To assess the impact of attachment status (blanket-attached vs. non-attached) on distress mitigation.
Main Methods:
- Sixty-four 3-year-olds were randomly assigned to be accompanied by their mother, a blanket, mother plus blanket, or no supportive agent.
- Children underwent four routine medical procedures.
- Behavioral and physiological measures were used to assess distress levels.
Main Results:
- Mothers and blankets (for attached children) equally mitigated distress compared to no supportive agent.
- Simultaneously presenting two attachment agents (mother and blanket) did not yield additive soothing effects.
- Children without any attachment agent exhibited significant distress, highlighting the importance of supportive figures.
Conclusions:
- Blankets can serve as effective maternal substitutes for comforting blanket-attached children during moderately upsetting medical procedures.
- The presence of a supportive agent, whether maternal or an inanimate object for attached children, is crucial for reducing distress.
- Conducting medical examinations without any supportive agent is undesirable due to increased child distress.
Abstract:
Because of parental interference, some pediatricians prefer examining children without parents nearby. Can inanimate, noninterfering attachment agents placate children during medical evaluations? Accompanied through random assignment by their mother, blanket, mother plus blanket, or no supportive agent, 64 blanket-attached or blanket-nonattached 3-year-olds underwent 4 routine medical procedures. Behavioral and physiological measures showed that mothers and blankets (for children attached to them) equally mitigated distress compared with no supportive agents. However, simultaneously presenting 2 attachment agents did not produce additive soothing effects. For comforting blanket-attached children during moderately upsetting medical procedures, blankets can function as appropriate maternal substitutes. Distress evidenced by children with no attachment agent demonstrates the undesirability of conducting medical examinations without supportive agents.