Parental Psychological Flexibility as a Mediating Factor of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children after Hospitalization or Surgery

Amichai Ben-Ari, Roy Aloni, Shiri Ben-David, Fortu Benarroch and Daniella Margalit
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Amichai Ben-Ari: Department of Behavioral Sciences, Ariel University, Ben-Zakai 36/8, Jerusalem 9318659, Israel
Roy Aloni: Department of Behavioral Sciences, Ariel University, Ben-Zakai 36/8, Jerusalem 9318659, Israel
Shiri Ben-David: Department of Psychology, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9190501, Israel
Fortu Benarroch: Herman Dana Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem 91240, Israel
Daniella Margalit: Department of Behavioral Sciences, Ariel University, Ben-Zakai 36/8, Jerusalem 9318659, Israel

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 21, 1-9

Abstract: Background: Illness, surgery, and surgical hospitalization are significant stressors for children. Children exposed to such medical events may develop post-traumatic medical syndrome (PMTS, pediatric medical traumatic stress) that could slow their physical and emotional recovery. Objective: This study examined the relationship between the level of parental psychological resilience and the development of PMTS in young children. Method: We surveyed 152 parents of children aged 1–6 who were admitted to the pediatric surgery department. Parents completed questionnaires in two phases. In the first phase, one of the parents completed the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-ll) and the Parental Psychological Flexibility (PPF) Questionnaire. In the second phase, about three months after discharge, the same parent completed the Young Child PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) Checklist (YCPC) and the UCLA (Los Angeles, CA, USA) PTSD Reaction Index for DSM-5 Parent/Caregiver Version for Children Age 6 Years and Younger Evaluating Post-traumatic Disorder. In addition, the parent completed a Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale (PDS) questionnaire to assess the existence of post-traumatic symptoms in the parents. Results: The findings indicate that (1) a parent’s psychological flexibility is significantly associated with the level of personal distress (r = ?0.45, p < 0.001), (2) a parents’ level of distress is significantly correlated with the child’s level of PTMS, and (3) a parent’s level of psychological flexibility is a significant mediating factor between the level of parental post-traumatic distress and the child’s level of PTMS. Conclusions: A parent’s psychological flexibility may act as a protective factor against the development of the child’s mental distress after hospitalization or surgery.

Keywords: pediatric medical traumatic stress; post traumatic stress disorder; parental psychological flexibility; children after hospitalization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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