Variables that affect the school-age child's reaction to hospitalization and surgery: a review of the literature.

The purpose of this paper has been to identify the variables documented in the literature that affect the school-age child's reaction to hospitalization and surgery. The variables were categorized as pertaining to the child, the parents, or the hospital. Variables in the category pertaining to the child that affect the child's reaction to hospitalization and surgery are developmental level and mechanisms used to cope with hospitalization and surgery. In the parent category, presence of the mother, preparation of the mother, support of the child by the mother, parental values, and socioeconomic status were considered variables that affect the child's reaction to hospitalization and surgery. The hospital environment is generally considered to be threatening to school-age children. The major variables identified in the hospital category that affect the child's reaction to hospitalization and surgery were specific events, length of hospitalization, nature and degree of illness, type of procedure, and method of preparation for the hospital experience.