Psychological Stress, Ego Defenses, and Cortisol Production in Children Hospitalized for Elective Surgery

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The relationship between the effectiveness of coping mechanisms and physiological indicators of distress in children faced with the experience of hospitalization and surgery was investigated. Children [25] between the ages of 7-11 were studied in the out-patient department, 2 wk before surgery and during their hospital stay. Effectiveness of defenses and defense style was measured by a clinical interview and by the Rorschach test. Cortisol production rates were measured by the analysis of 24-h urine collections at home and in the hospital. Ward adjustment was rated by a ward questionnaire. No relationship between defense effectiveness and cortisol production rates in the out-patient department was found. An inverse relationship between cortisol production and defense effectiveness under the stress of hospitalization was found. Defense style correlated with coping under stress. Different groups (4) of children emerged, suggesting 4 different types of reaction to the hospital experience.

This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit: