La hospitalización prolongada y su incidencia en los roles parentales del sistema familiar.

Abstract

In the present investigation, the long hospital stay of a child and its effect within the family system was analyzed. Three variables are discussed: prolonged hospitalization, family system and problems in parental roles. The objective is to analyze and describe the prolonged hospitalization of children, which affects family dynamics and therefore causes changes in its structure, through the qualitative approach, with a descriptive method, in order to carry out an analysis of the various perspectives and experiences of the collaborators (parents and clinical psychologists who practice in the hospital setting) in this research. Likewise, analysis of theoretical texts and bibliographic review were used. On the other hand, semi-structured interviews with parents and clinical psychologists from the hospital area are used as a data collection tool. With the results of the interviews, I specify and identify the various changes, challenges and adaptation that a family goes through in this situation. New adaptations generate emotional pressures, exhaustion and stress in parents. In turn, these factors not only affect the personal health of the main caregiver, but also impact the emotional and functional stability of the entire family.