Stress and Coping Strategies Among Parents of Children Admitted to the Isolation Unit

Hospitalization of a child in isolation units often heightens parental stress, forcing reliance on culturally, religiously, and socially rooted coping mechanisms. Objectives: To explore stressors and coping strategies among parents caring for children in pediatric isolation units. Methods: A qualitative case study design was employed in the Pediatric Isolation Departments of major government hospitals in Peshawar, KP. Purposive sampling recruited 12 parents (7 mothers, 5 fathers) whose children had stayed at least one week. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, audio-recorded, and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was conducted using open, axial, and selective coding. Results: Four themes emerged: (1) Emotional distress parents experienced intense anxiety, helplessness, and sleep disturbance due to uncertainty and restricted caregiving roles; (2) Social and financial strain loss of income, disruption of daily life, and social isolation intensified stress; (3) Trust and reassurance in healthcare professionals clear communication from doctors and nurses reduced fear and enhanced confidence; and (4) Coping through faith and mutual support religious practices, prayer, spousal communication, and sharing comfort with other parents emerged as dominant coping strategies. Parents emphasized spirituality (Tasbih, supplications) as their primary source of resilience, alongside emotional reassurance from family and peers. Conclusions: Parents of children in isolation units face severe psychological, social, and financial stress. Coping strategies centered on faith, family communication, peer reassurance, and medical assurance were vital in maintaining resilience. Culturally sensitive, family-centred interventions are essential to strengthen parental coping and reduce distress.