The effect of a clown model implemented in hospital on the anxiety and depression level of ill children and their mothers

Abstract

Background: This study aims to investigate the effect of hospital clowns on the anxiety and depression level of child patients and their mothers during hospital stay.

Methods: 99 children (7–13 years old) and their mothers were randomly divided into clown and control groups. Anxiety and depression levels of the groups were measured with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory.

Results: 96% of the children stated that they had enjoyed the clowns, 84% said the clowns had been entertaining and relieving, 60% reported the clowns had reduced their fear and excitement, 94% wished the clowns would visit them again and 80% said the first thing they would remember when they were hospitalized again would be the clowns. The presence of clowns during hospital stay was found useful for managing children’s anxiety and depression (p < .05), but it was not efficient for their mothers (p > .05).

Conclusion: Clown intervention is effective in reducing anxiety and depression levels in children during hospitalization.

Keywords:

• Children
• mothers
• therapeutic clowns
• depression and anxiety
• nursing

Acknowledgment

The authors are grateful to all of the participants and Nevin Şeker in the study. The authors thank Funda Demirtürk for her contribution about language edition.