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Behavioral disturbances among medically hospitalized school-age children
Insights
Medically hospitalized children often exhibit behavioral disturbances, with over half showing clinical symptoms. Internalizing problems were more common than externalizing ones, highlighting a need for mental health support.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Psychology
- Child Psychiatry
- Behavioral Pediatrics
Background:
- Medically hospitalized children face significant stressors.
- Behavioral disturbances are common in this population but often under-recognized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and types of behavioral disturbances in school-age children during medical hospitalization.
- To identify potential correlations between behavioral issues and factors like socioeconomic status and prior hospitalizations.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) completed by mothers to assess prehospital behavior in 76 school-age children (8-12 years).
- Compared hospitalized children's scores to standardized nonclinical norms on the CBCL.
- Analyzed associations between behavioral problems and socioeconomic status or previous hospitalizations.
Main Results:
- 51% of hospitalized children scored in the clinical range for behavioral disturbances.
- Internalizing symptoms (47%) were more prevalent than externalizing symptoms (21%).
- Externalizing behaviors showed a slight association with lower socioeconomic status, but not with prior hospitalizations.
Conclusions:
- A significant proportion of medically hospitalized school-age children experience behavioral disturbances, particularly internalizing symptoms.
- Findings underscore the necessity for integrated mental health services for hospitalized children.
- Further research is needed to explore the specific needs of this vulnerable pediatric population.
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to examine the behavioral disturbances of medically hospitalized school-age children. Seventy-six school-age children, between the ages of 8 and 12, were the subjects. The children's usual prehospital behavior was reported by their mothers who completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). The hospitalized children were compared with the standardized nonclinical norms on the CBCL. Fifty-one percent of the children scored in the clinical range on one or both of the broad bands measuring behavioral disturbances: 21% on externalizing symptoms and 47% on internalizing symptoms. Total behavior problems and externalizing behavior were slightly associated with low socioeconomic status but not with the number of previous hospitalizations. Internalizing problems were not related to socioeconomic status nor the number of previous hospitalizations. The need for specialized mental health services to this population is discussed.