Child Life Coping and Stress Reduction Flashcards
6 cards from real Child Life Exam practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Child Life Coping and Stress Reduction flashcards as text
A child life specialist notices that an 8-year-old patient has started wetting the bed again after being admitted to the hospital. This behavior is BEST understood as:
Answer: Regression as a stress response to hospitalization
Regression to earlier developmental behaviors is a common stress response in hospitalized children. Bed-wetting in a previously toilet-trained child typically reflects emotional distress rather than a medical or behavioral issue.
When implementing a coping plan for a child with chronic illness who requires frequent procedures, the MOST effective approach is to:
Answer: Collaborate with the child to develop and update the plan over time
Collaborative coping plans that evolve with the child's experiences, preferences, and development are most effective for children with chronic illness who face repeated procedures.
A parent reports that their 5-year-old has been having nightmares and refuses to play doctor since returning home from surgery. These behaviors MOST likely indicate:
Answer: Symptoms of post-traumatic stress that warrant follow-up
Nightmares and avoidance of medical-themed play following surgery are potential indicators of medical trauma or post-traumatic stress that should be assessed and addressed.
Which theoretical framework BEST supports a child life specialist's use of medical play as both an assessment tool and a coping intervention?
Answer: Piaget's cognitive developmental theory combined with play therapy principles
Piaget's understanding of how children process experiences through play, combined with therapeutic play principles, provides the strongest framework for using medical play as both assessment and intervention.
A child life specialist working with a teenager who refuses all coping strategies before a lumbar puncture should FIRST:
Answer: Respect the teen's refusal and explore their reasons and preferences
Respecting an adolescent's autonomy while exploring underlying reasons for refusal maintains trust and often reveals alternative ways to provide support.
Which type of coping is a child demonstrating when they turn away and cover their ears during wound care?
Answer: Avoidant coping
Avoidant coping involves minimizing exposure to the stressor through physical or mental disengagement, such as looking away or covering ears.