The effect of space design on reducing children's stress in therapeutic clinics

Subject Areas : َArchitecture

Mohadaseh Golalizadeh Bibalan ¹ , حمید رضا عظمتی ² , Saeed Azemati ³ , sayyed yaghoub zolfegharifar ⁴

1 - PhD student in Architectural Engineering, Yasouj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Yasouj, Iran
2 - گروه معماری و شهرسازی دانشگاه تربیت دبیر شهید رجایی
3 - Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, Tehran East Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
4 - Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Yasouj Branch, Islamic Azad

Received: 2024-12-31 Accepted : 2025-01-26 Published : 2025-02-12

Keywords: Space design, stress reduction, Therapy clinical,

Abstract :

As a significant portion of society, children require special attention in the design of healthcare environments. Despite the high prevalence of childhood diseases, unfortunately, interior design standards and regulations that consider the psychological and physical characteristics of children are rarely seen in pediatric healthcare centers. Meanwhile, designing therapeutic environments tailored to the needs of children can significantly reduce stress and improve the healing process. The aim of this research is to investigate the impact of dimensional components of children's clinics on reducing stress and improving the quality of treatment with an emphasis on environmental psychology. In this study, a descriptive-analytical mixed method was used and data was collected through questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS software. The findings of the research show that environmental architecture, with an emphasis on physical, environmental, cleanliness, and tidiness elements, has an impact on the psychological, physiological, and physical health dimensions of children. As a result, paying attention to these components in the design of children's healthcare environments can help reduce stress and accelerate their recovery process.

 

Extended Abstract

 

Introduction

Children constitute a significant portion of society, and neglecting their needs can have a profound impact on the future. Despite the prevalence of childhood illnesses, there has been a notable lack of attention in the architectural community to the specific standards and physical requirements of children's healthcare facilities. By considering children's unique psychological and physical characteristics and behavioral patterns in the design of therapeutic environments, stress can be reduced, and the quality of care can be improved. Therefore, designing children's healthcare spaces based on their specific needs and environmental psychology principles is of paramount importance. This research aims to answer the following questions: What are the factors that reduce children's stress? How do the spatial components of children's clinics affect the quality of treatment, with a focus on environmental psychology.

This study employs a descriptive-analytical method and includes both qualitative and quantitative data. A questionnaire was used to collect data, which was then analyzed using SPSS software. The findings reveal that architectural environments, which consist of physical elements, environmental elements, and cleanliness, have a significant impact on human health, psychology, physiology, and physical well-being. Based on the findings of this study, it is predicted that paying attention to spatial components in children's healthcare environments can effectively reduce stress and accelerate recovery.

 

Methodology

The research design of this study is both analytical and descriptive. It aims to investigate the factors that contribute to reducing stress in children within pediatric clinical settings and to identify the components and characteristics that are effective in mitigating this stress. The sample size for this study consists of an average of 15 children visiting the pediatric departments of 2 medical centers.

A descriptive approach, based on a review of existing literature, was employed. This approach, considering previous studies, identified several factors influencing stress reduction in children: light, color, nature, and child-appropriate scale (dimensional components of space). This research endeavors to examine the impact of each of these factors on stress reduction in pediatric treatment environments.

An analytical approach utilizing a questionnaire was adopted for the pediatric department. The questionnaire is standardized and includes sections on personal information such as age, gender, and the name of the medical center, as well as questions related to stress reduction. All answers are provided on a 4-point Likert scale, ranging from 'never' to 'always.' Subsequently, all data collected from the questionnaires were entered into SPSS software, and the researcher analyzed the obtained information using the tests described in the following sections.

 

Results and discussion

In this research, two case studies of children's treatment centers were selected for the study. At the discretion of the researchers, the names of these centers are not mentioned in this research and are referred to as Centers A and B. Each of these two centers has different conditions in terms of building height, room height, interior spaces, and physical conditions. In this research, intervening variables such as differences in staff behavior, facilities and equipment, and weather have been considered the same in both sets. This difference is clearly evident in images (1 and 2) presented below. Therefore, the researchers have compared the average level of stress reduction in children in these centers through a questionnaire answered by both the children and their parents.

 

Conclusion

The results indicate that the average stress reduction index among children utilizing these centers is 2.17 in Clinic A and 2.92 in Clinic B.

Therefore, according to this test, the average stress level among children visiting Clinic A, where psychological environmental factors are more adhered to, is lower. Hence, it can be concluded that the reciprocal impact of the environment on humans, as well as understanding environmental psychology in interaction with children, should serve as a model for appropriate design. By adhering to this model in the design process of spaces required for children's treatment centers, the level of stress experienced by these children during their visits to these centers can be reduced.

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