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Children's experiences of stress and coping during hospitalization: A mixed-methods examination
Amy M Claridge1, Olivia J Powell1
1Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA, USA.
Insights
Hospitalization is stressful for children. This study found that younger children and those with child life specialist support coped better with hospital stressors like pain and uncertainty.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Psychology
- Child Development
- Healthcare Experiences
Background:
- Hospitalization is a common yet stressful experience for children.
- Understanding children's coping mechanisms is crucial for improving healthcare.
- Previous research highlights various stressors and coping factors in pediatric settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the experiences of hospitalized children.
- To identify key stressors and coping strategies.
- To examine factors associated with effective coping during hospitalization.
Main Methods:
- Interviews and assessments were conducted with 17 children hospitalized in a U.S. children's hospital.
- Measures included the Facial Affective Scale (FAS) for distress and Child Drawing: Hospital for anxiety.
- Thematic analysis was used to identify stressors and coping factors.
Main Results:
- Children reported moderate anxiety and low distress, with common stressors including pain, disrupted routines, and uncertainty.
- Social support from parents/peers and distractions were identified as key coping factors.
- Younger children and those receiving child life specialist services coped better.
- High stress levels (distress and anxiety) correlated with poor coping, irrespective of diagnosis understanding.
Conclusions:
- Interventions should focus on mitigating stressors like pain and uncertainty.
- Enhancing social support and providing distractions can aid coping.
- Child life specialist services appear beneficial for supporting children's adjustment to hospitalization.
Abstract:
Children often experience hospitalization as stressful. To better understand children's experiences, this current study involved interviews with and assessments of 17 children who were currently admitted at a U.S. children's hospital. On average, they reported low levels of distress on the Facial Affective Scale (FAS) (M = .34) and moderate levels of anxiety on the Child Drawing: Hospital (M = 107.01). Results revealed themes in children's experiences including stressors in the hospital, such as pain, disruptions to normalcy, and uncertainty. Children also reported factors that contributed to coping, including social support from parents and peers, and distractions from the medical routine such as leaving their hospital room. When children were grouped into clusters based on coping, those who were younger and who had received child life specialist services tended to be coping well. Regardless of understanding of diagnosis, those who demonstrated high levels of stress (distress and anxiety) in assessments tended to be categorized as not coping well. The findings inform interventions to support children's coping during hospitalization.
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