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Coping strategies for hospital-related fears in pre-school-aged children

Marja Salmela1, Sanna Salanterä, Taru Ruotsalainen

  • 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland. marja.salmela@metropolia.fi

Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health
|January 29, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Children aged 4-6 utilize various coping strategies for hospital fears, including parental presence, hospital staff assistance, and play. Empowering children with active roles enhances their sense of control during medical procedures.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Psychology
  • Child Health Research

Background:

  • Hospitalization can induce fear in young children.
  • Understanding child-reported coping mechanisms is crucial for supportive care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and describe coping strategies used by 4-6-year-old children facing hospital-related fears.

Main Methods:

  • Semi-structured interviews with 82 children (aged 4-6) in Finland.
  • Data collected from children interviewed in hospital and kindergarten settings.
  • Quantitative and qualitative analysis of interview data.

Main Results:

  • Most frequent coping strategies included parental presence (15.7%), hospital staff help (11.2%), positive imagery/humor (11%), play (11%), and comfort toys (8.7%).
  • Children in hospital more frequently cited play (P=0.000) as a coping strategy.
  • Children in kindergarten more frequently cited parental presence (P=0.032) and doctor's help (P=0.012).

Conclusions:

  • Children employ diverse coping strategies, with a notable preference for active engagement.
  • Supporting children's active coping mechanisms can foster a sense of control in the hospital environment.
  • Integrating child-centered coping strategies alongside traditional methods is essential for alleviating fear.
Abstract

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