Mothers' perceptions of coping behaviors in hospitalized preschool children

This study determined mothers' perceptions of coping in their hospitalized preschool children. Thirty-two mothers were interviewed using open-ended questions to determine their views of coping, what behaviors they described their children using in difficult situations, and what they did to help their children cope. They indicated which of the 40 items on the Children's Coping Strategies Checklist (CCSC) they considered to be coping behaviors. The answers to the open-ended questions were content analyzed. Twenty-two mothers described coping as an outcome--that is, as the degree of adaptational success. Seventy-five percent or more of the mothers identified 22 of the CCSC behaviors as coping; 15 of these behaviors were from the subscales of Information Seeking, Seeking Comfort/Help, and Growth/Independence. Eight items were viewed by fewer than half of the mothers as coping, and included regression, denial, withdrawal, and control by preventing events. The mothers described the strategies they used to help their children manage difficult situations; the predominant strategies were providing information and comfort. The implications of the findings are discussed.