A ten-year comparison of fathers' and mothers' reactions toward their hospitalized adolescents.
Difficulties confronting parents of hospitalized adolescents are reviewed. Fathers' and mothers' reactions to their child's illness and hospitalization are compared to those of 10 years ago. Differences in attitudes and behavior over the decade are believed to be more attributable to the cultural climate than to the variability in the sample. The more pronounced changes were found among fathers, who currently showed less hostility toward the hospital and patient and a greater ability to express a range of feelings. Compared to 10 years ago, the fathers were more motivated to visit by concern than by duty and evidenced greater ease on the ward and more involvement with their children. Paternal and maternal roles appeared to overlap far more than previously, to the benefit to both.
D000293:Adolescent; D000298:Adolescent, Hospitalized / Q000523:psychology*; D003237:Connecticut; D006746:Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over; D006801:Humans; D010287:Parent-Child Relations