Good thoughts corner bad ones. And the laughter, sometimes laughter, caused by clowns serves as therapy to improve the condition, both physical and psychological of children and adolescents suffering from a chronic illness. It is well known the positive effects of laughter to improve mood, but now, a study just published in the journal ‘The BMJ’, Certifies the well-being it brings to the little ones in the house.
Haizea Murgia, a social educator by training, is well aware of this. He has been working at Irrikiclown, a group that visits sick children at Creus Hospital every week and he does not hesitate to argue that it “improves the immune system” of patients. In his opinion, the “most important thing” is to get them to remain children. “They are treated like adults in this stronghold and sometimes they forget how important they continue to play, to turn the hospital, from the imaginary, into anything,” he says. for her “The game that is created in the room is very important” because even though it seems to be fading, nothing could be further from the truth. It continues to permeate the following hours and days and even the memories that will guide the little ones in their lives.
And in spite of everything – or perhaps above all – because of this habitat in which they have had to live, the little ones have a strong need to smile and laugh. “It’s important to fill a place with hope,” he said. Also for their families and for those who are not able to overcome the disease it is essential to happily end their last hours. “They deserve to be able to play and be kids. It is essential that these places are humanized and that they have a good quality of life while they are there », Defense.
It has long been believed that the effort of animators, who either work or go to hospitals voluntarily, can help reduce the stress and anxiety that logically causes them to be under so much pressure, even more so. at an early age. Situations that are exacerbated by having to wait, for example, for surgery or suffer from a disease such as cancer. However, there were no consistent studies nor did one hundred percent affirm this theory. Bye now. Brazilian and Canadian researchers have examined the symptoms recorded by the little ones who were admitted in the short and long term and have discovered that improvements can be demonstrated.
anxiety
Scientists have analyzed the databases of 24 relevant trials in which data related to 1,612 children and adolescents were collected. In most of them, as you can imagine, the little ones suffered from anxiety, but also pain, stress, fatigue – in cases of cancer – and crying. Well, the little ones who received visits from the clowns in the hospital had a better psychological evolution and they developed less anxiety.
Up to three trials that assessed chronic diseases significant reductions in anxiety were detected than children. And the results were remarkable compared to the rest of the children who did not have access to these professionals. For all this, the researchers do not hesitate to state that “hospital clowns could have a positive effect on improving psychological well-being and the responses they suffer. Our findings also support the ongoing research of complementary treatments for a better psychological fit during the process of hospitalization in pediatrics “, they emphasize.