Systematic Review: A Systematic Review of the Interrelationships Among Children’s Coping Responses, Children’s Coping Outcomes, and Parent Cognitive-Affective, Behavioral, and Contextual Variables in the Needle-Related Procedures Context

To conduct a systematic review of the interrelationships between children's coping responses, children's coping outcomes, and parent variables during needle-related procedures.   A systematic literature search was conducted. It was required that the study examined a painful needle-related procedure in children from 3 to 12 years of age, and included a children's coping response, a children's coping outcome, and a parent variable. In all, 6,081 articles were retrieved to review against inclusion criteria. Twenty studies were included.   Parent coping-promoting behaviors and distress-promoting behaviors enacted in combination are the most consistent predictors of optimal children's coping responses, and less optimal children's coping outcomes, respectively. Additional key findings are presented.   Children's coping with needle-related procedures is a complex process involving a variety of different dimensions that interact in unison. Parents play an important role in this process. Future researchers are encouraged to disentangle coping responses from coping outcomes when exploring this dynamic process.