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A Computer‐Compatible Method for Observing Falling Asleep Behavior of Hospitalized Children
Author(s) -
White Marjorie A.,
Wear Elise,
Stephenson Gordon
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
research in nursing and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1098-240X
pISSN - 0160-6891
DOI - 10.1002/nur.4770060407
Subject(s) - bedtime , psychology , falling (accident) , pleasure , distress , developmental psychology , audiology , clinical psychology , medicine , psychiatry , psychotherapist
A family‐organizational linkage framework was used to conceptualize the nighttime separation behaviors of 18 hospitalized children, ages 3 to 8, whose parents did not room‐in. All children were observed for three consecutive nights during the falling asleep period. A bedtime story, tape recorded by the parent, was played on the second and third nights for one group. Frequency and duration of falling asleep behaviors were recorded and analyzed with the Senders Signals and Receivers System, a computer‐compatible method of recording behavioral data. Eight conceptual behavioral categories emerged from the data: sleepy, contact, active, inactive, neutral, communication, distress, and pleasure. The story‐children fell asleep sooner (23 minutes vs. 28 minutes), exhibited more sleepy behaviors, and displayed fewer active behaviors. Duration of contact behaviors also was greater in this group (22 minutes vs. 14 minutes). Hospitalized children who hear a bedtime story recorded by a parent appear to use self‐soothing behaviors to cope with the separation experience.