Coping behaviors of hospitalized preschool children.

This study examined the coping behaviors of 208 hospitalized preschoolers during high stress and low stress events. The children were observed during 722 events and their behaviors were recorded on the Children's Coping Strategies Checklist (CCSC). The group included acutely and chronically ill children. While the preschoolers used more coping behaviors in low-stress events than they did in high-stress events, there were very few differences between the number of coping behaviors used by chronically ill and acutely ill children. The tendency to use fewer coping behaviors in high-stress events was more marked in the acutely ill children. There were larger differences in the specific coping behaviors used in high-stress and low-stress events. The types of coping behaviors used most frequently were Information Seeking (watching and visual examination) and Direct Action (tension reducing involving self, control by active participation, and control by preventing or delaying an event). The children used very few Independence/Growth and Intrapsychic coping behaviors. The research and clinical implications of the findings are discussed.