Parental Anxiety and Its Associated Factors During Pediatric Hospitalization: A Cross- Sectional Study
Keywords:
Parental anxiety, Hospitalization, Pediatric patients, Family-centered careAbstract
Introduction: Hospitalization of a child often brings considerable stress to parents. The uncertainty surrounding the diagnosis, treatment plans, and expected outcomes can provoke anxiety, which may influence how parents engage in caregiving and interact with medical staff.
Objectives: This study aimed to explore the levels of anxiety among parents of hospitalized children and to investigate how various parental characteristics relate to their anxiety levels.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 50 parents whose children were admitted to a pediatric ward. Parental anxiety was assessed using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS). Data on respondent characteristics such as gender, educational attainment, occupation, and history of previous child hospitalizations were collected. The analysis employed descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests to identify significant associations.
Results: The average anxiety score among participants was 18.60 ± 6.70. Moderate anxiety was most common (34.0%), followed by mild anxiety (28.0%), severe anxiety (16.0%), and no anxiety (22.0%). A history of prior child hospitalization showed a significant correlation with increased parental anxiety levels (p = 0.043). In contrast, gender, education, and occupation did not exhibit a significant relationship with anxiety (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: Anxiety is a prevalent experience for parents during their child’s hospital stay. Those with previous hospitalization experiences tend to have heightened anxiety. Implementing early anxiety screening and fostering supportive communication between healthcare providers and parents may help alleviate distress and enhance the overall quality of pediatric care.
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