Date of Award
8-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
International Family and Community Studies
Committee Chair/Advisor
Susan Limber
Committee Member
Matt Flege
Committee Member
Bonnie Holaday
Committee Member
Lindsey Murphy
Abstract
Medical visits, regardless of setting, are stressful for children and their families. Care that focuses on the emotional safety of children and families can help reduce this stress. However, not all staff feel prepared to provide emotionally safe care. Child life specialists (CLSs) are specifically trained to support emotional needs during healthcare encounters. Their presence may help staff stress as well, not just stress for children and families.
This study used three surveys to understand stress among healthcare staff working in pediatric outpatient clinics and surgery settings, and how support from a CLS affects staff, children, and families. All staff reported work-related stress. CLS reported the highest levels of stress, possibly due to their consistent involvement in emotional care. Other staff felt less stressed and more satisfied when a CLS was present, and many reported that CLS support improved the overall experience for both patients and staff.
These findings suggest that CLSs may help reduce staff burnout and help healthcare staff feel more supported. This, in turn, supports better care for children and families.
Recommended Citation
Davis, Jenni, "Emotional Safety in Pediatrics: The Impact of Child Life Services on Healthcare Professionals’ Perceptions of Their Own, Patients’, and Families’ Outpatient Experiences" (2025). All Dissertations. 4047.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_dissertations/4047
Author ORCID Identifier
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4967-9160
Comments
This study developed and validated two scales (the Emotional Safety Stress Scale and the Staff Perceptions of Stress Scale) that can be used to assess stress related to emotional safety and staff perceptions of stress, offering a foundation for future research.