Hospitalized children: A study on the factors affecting psychosocial adjustment

Objective: The aim of our study is to investigate the relationship between the psychosocial difficulties of children who were hospitalized for various reasons, with child related, familial, environmental and disease/treatment-related factors. Method: Between February 2018 - May 2019 the caregivers of 6 - 12 years old children (n = 171; 92 girls, 79 males; mean age = 9.26 +/- 2.17) who were treated in the inpatient services of a University Hospital were interviewed and an "Information form" constructed for the present study and "Psychosocial Symptom Diagnosis Scale for Inpatient Children" were filled. The anxiety, hopelessness, communication difficulties, anger-aggression, regression and total psychosocial difficulties of the children were evaluated over 5 sub-dimensions with the total scale score; the effects of child, family-environment and disease-treatment related parameters on psychosocial difficulties were assessed. Results: Younger ages, low maternal education, low perceived social support of the family, long hospital stay and invasive procedures in the treatment were associated with impaired psychosocial adjustment (p<.05). Girls showed more regression than boys (z=-2.269; p=.023*). Children who were living in rural areas and came to the hospital from outside the province were more likely to have communication difficulties (p<.05). Father's education, family income, history of having surgery, and having chronic/acute illness did not account for a statistically significant difference (p>.05). Discussion: It is important to be aware of children who are at greater risk for adjustment difficulties during inpatient treatment. We should be sensitive and take supportive and protective measures to improve their psychosocial compliance.