The Impact of Parental Attitudes and Anxieties on the Anxiety Levels of Hospitalized Children Aged 2-6: Descriptive and Cross-Sectional Research

Objective: This study aimed to examine the effect of the attitudes and concerns of parents of hospitalized children aged 2-6 on their children's anxiety levels. Material and Methods: Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with the parents of 150 children hospitalized in a district hospital using an introductory information form, the Preschool Anxiety Scale (PAS-R) Parent Version, the Parenting Attitude Scale, and the Beck Anxiety Scale. The data were analyzed using t-tests, analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation analysis. Results: The average age of participants was 32.71±4.62 years, and the average age of the children was 4.05±1.21 years. The average total score of the PAS-R Parent Version was 84.06±17.84, with the highest subscale scores being specific phobias (26.08±5.55) and generalized anxiety (25.80±6.33). In the Parenting Attitude Scale, the highest average was found in the authoritarian subscale (38.97±6.47), with 23.3% of parents exhibiting severe levels of anxiety. Conclusion: It is recommended that all parents of hospitalized children receive education about the relationship between their children's anxiety and parental anxiety, as well as the importance of parenting attitudes, to increase awareness. When children are taken to play areas in the hospital, a dedicated adult room equipped with games and activities can be created, allowing parents to spend time outside the patient room.