The psychosocial impact of play on hospitalized children. Academic Article

abstract

• Compared the effects of play on the psychosocial adjustment of 46 children hospitalized for acute illness, who were placed in one of four groups: therapeutic play, diversionary play, verbal support, and no treatment. Ratings of psychological adjustment included self-report, as well as nurse and parent ratings. Children in the therapeutic play condition evidenced a significant reduction in self-reported hospital fears. Parent ratings were not affected by therapeutic treatments; rather, parents in all four groups rated their children less anxious from pre- to posttesting. Results are discussed in terms of methodological considerations that have affected outcomes in this type of research.

authors

• Rae, William

author list (cited authors)

• Rae, W. A., Worchel, F. F., Upchurch, J., Sanner, J. H., & Daniel, C. A.

citation count

• 46

complete list of authors

• Rae, WA||Worchel, FF||Upchurch, J||Sanner, JH||Daniel, CA

publication date

• January 1989

publisher

• Oxford University Press (OUP)  Publisher

published in

• Journal of Pediatric Psychology  Journal

keywords

• Child
• Child, Hospitalized
• Child, Preschool
• Fear
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Play And Playthings
• Play Therapy
• Social Support

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1093/jpepsy/14.4.617

start page

• 617

end page

• 627

volume

• 14

issue

• 4

URL

• http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/14.4.617