An Experimental Evaluation of a Model Child Life Program

Abstract

A model child life program for hospitalized children between the ages of 3 and 14 was systematically developed and tested on a large number of stress coping, adjustment and surgical recovery variables the results indicated that children who participated in the experimental program (N = 68) scored significantly better on 18 of the 21 outcome variables than did control children (N = 160) who did not participate in a full child life program As in previous research and within the limitations of a quasiexperimental design the results suggest that this type of systematic child life care has a significtant, positive impact on hospitalized children.