title: Information-seeking coping and anxiety in school-age children anticipating surgery.
abstract: This study examined the relation between coping behavior and anxiety among school-age children anticipating an elective tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy. The demographic variables of age, gender, previous hospitalization, and birth order were also studied in relation to both coping and anxiety. Interview methods were utilized to measure information-seeking and information-limiting coping behaviors and feelings of anxiety. The results of this study indicate that children who used primarily information-seeking or information-limiting strategies were successful (as measured by low anxiety levels) in managing the stress of anticipated hospitalization. Children using information-seeking strategies for some, but not all, aspects of the hospitalization experience reported the greatest anxiety. The demographic variables were not related to either anxiety or coping.
authors.affiliation: Syracuse University.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000233:Adenoidectomy / Q000523:psychology; D001007:Anxiety; D001722:Birth Order; D002648:Child; D002673:Child, Hospitalized / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000523:psychology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009511:New England; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000523:psychology