Temores infantiles : los relatos como vía de simbolización del miedo al abandono en el área de hospitalización UCIP.

Abstract

This study examines the fear of abandonment in childhood within the inpatient setting of a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). The objective is to analyze how narratives facilitate the symbolization of the fear of abandonment in children in the PICU, using a qualitative exploration to understand its subjective effects. The study methodology was qualitative, with an interpretive and phenomenological paradigm; a semi-structured interview was conducted with five informants from the Clinical Psychology department. The results focused on the three categories of the study: childhood fears, narratives as a means of symbolization, and the PICU setting. In the first category, manifestations in children such as anxiety, repeated questions, sleep disturbances, and vigilant behaviors upon separation from their parents were identified. In the second, it was noted that narratives allowed children to organize scenes, construct sequences, and transform experiences of absence into narratives. In the third study, it was identified that the hospital setting presents special characteristics, such as shift changes and restrictions on family accompaniment, which significantly influence the intensity of the child's fear. In conclusion, it was shown that narrative functions as a resource that provides subjective continuity, as well as constituting a means of support and coping that facilitates the management of fear of abandonment in pediatric hospital wards.