The Effectiveness of Storytelling on Reducing Anxiety Among, Hospitalized Preschoolers in PRS Hospital, Trivandrum

Abstract

Hospitalization can induce anxiety and fear in children, leading to maladaptive behaviour. Storytelling has been found to improve children’s communication, reduce stress, and enhance their ability to express emotions effectively and comfortably. By using storytelling as a therapeutic intervention, healthcare providers can help children release negative emotions and develop coping strategies. The main objective of the study is to assess the effectiveness of Story Telling on reducing anxiety among hospitalized preschool children, to find out the association between the level of anxiety among hospitalized children with demographic variables. A pre-experimental study was chosen; Quasi experimental pre-test post-test control group was used in the study. purposive sampling technique was used for the study .sample size of 60 Hospitalised preschool children of age between 3-5 years are selected. An observational check list was used to assess the level of anxiety. The collected data are analysis by using descriptive and inferential statistics based on the predefined objectives of study. In the present study assessment of pre-test level of anxiety among hospitalized preschool children in the experimental group pre-test score shows that 13.33% of them have mild anxiety, 23.33% of them have moderate and 63.33% of them have severe anxiety level. In the post- test 70 % Of them having mild anxiety, 30%of them having moderate anxiety and 0% of them having severe anxiety level. On control group score shows that 20% of them have mild anxiety, 30% of them have moderate anxiety and 50% of them have severe anxiety level. Association of anxiety among preschool children and storytelling shows that there is significant association between anxiety and storytelling. Chi-square test revealed that there was significant association between post-test level of anxiety with selected demographic variables. The study findings revealed that story telling effectively reduced anxiety among hospitalized preschool children. There is a significant association between anxiety and selected demographic variables. Story telling helps preschool children to adapt to the hospital environment and reduces their anxiety level.