Date of Graduation

Summer 2020

Degree

Master of Science in Child Life Studies

Department

Childhood Education and Family Studies

Committee Chair

Denise Cunningham

Abstract

This particular research study examined the impact of guided imagery and deep breathing as coping tools to reduce the anxiety levels experienced by pediatric cancer patients ages 6-12 years of age at a children’s hospital in Central Pennsylvania. This quantitative study utilized a pretest-posttest design, in addition to utilizing the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC™) as the baseline and post-test assessment. The STAIC™ is a questionnaire tool that assesses individuals’ state and trait anxiety through a total of 40 questions. This particular study had a total of five patients, two male and three female that consented to undergoing three training sessions with the researcher, who practiced guided imagery and deep breathing techniques with the participants. Following the conclusion of the interventions, the researcher utilized a paired t-test to compare the pre-test and post-test scores to find that there was a statistically significant difference and that the participants had lowered levels of anxiety over the course of three training interventions. An independent sample t-test did not indicate that gender influenced coping. Current research and the noted gaps in this area of study led to the development and successful completion of this study.

Keywords

anxiety, certified child life specialist, diaphragmatic breathing, guided imagery, non-pharmacological interventions, one-group pretest-post-test design, progressive muscle relaxation, state anxiety, trait anxiety

Subject Categories

Hematology | Oncology | Other Mental and Social Health | Pediatrics

Copyright

© Bethany Grace Aney

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