I really wanted a girl 'cause girl doctors are softer than boys - children's memories and their subsequent health care attitudes

• Main Author: Tucker, Vanessa C., 1977-
• Other Authors: Memorial University of Newfoundland. Dept. of Psychology
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2002
• Subjects: Children > Attitudes; Children > Hospital care > Psychological aspects; Health attitudes; Stress in children; Newfoundland studies; University of Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/theses3/id/128134

Thesis (M.Sc.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2003. Psychology Bibliography: leaves 69-75 The present study examined the mediating role of memory within the relationship between experience and children's health care attitudes. Forty-six children between the ages of 6 and 13 years old were recruited from an emergency room and interviewed about their injuries and hospital visits initially and 6 months later. Children were also given a health care attitudes questionnaire at both periods. Children who remembered more about their injuries reported that the health care system was less effective. Children who remembered more about hospital related events reported disliking the health care system more. Changes in children's memory over the two time periods did not relate to changes in children's health care attitudes. Higher levels of distress were found to be related to enhancements in children's memory and more negative health care attitudes initially. Findings suggest that memory for medical experiences may play a minor role in health care attitudes.