Good thoughts turn bad. And the laughter, sometimes loud, caused by clowns serves as a therapy to improve the physical and psychological condition of children and adolescents suffering from a chronic illness. It’s well known the positive effects of laughter to improve mood, but now, a study that was just published in the journal “The BMJ”, certifies the well-being it brings to the youngest in the house.
Haizea Murgia, a social educator by training, knows this well. For a decade he worked Irrikiclown, a group that visits sick children weekly at Cruces Hospital and does not hesitate to defend that the immune system of patients is improved. In his opinion, the most important thing is to make sure that they remain children. “They are treated like adults in that redoubt and sometimes they forget how important it is to continue to play, to transform the hospital, from the imaginary, into anything,” he says. For her «The game created in the room is very important» because, although it seems to be disappearing, nothing is further from reality. Continue to penetrate the hours and days that follow and even the memories that will guide the little ones in your life.
And it is that, in spite of everyone – or maybe especially – because of the habitat in which they had to live, the little ones have a strong need to smile and laugh. “It’s important to fill a site with hope,” he said. Also, for their families and for those who are not able to overcome the disease, it is essential to end their last hours happily. «They deserve to be able to play and be children. It is essential that these places are humanized and have a good quality of life while they are there », defend.
It has long been believed that the effort of animators, who either work or volunteer in hospitals, can help reduce the stress and anxiety that logically causes them to be subjected to so much pressure, especially at an early age. Situations that are increased by waiting, for example, for surgery or suffering from a disease such as cancer. However, there have been no consistent studies or studies to support this theory one hundred percent. So far. Brazilian and Canadian researchers examined the symptoms of the little ones which were admitted in the short and long term and found that improvements could be demonstrated.
Anxiety
The scientists analyzed databases from 24 relevant studies in which data on 1,612 children and adolescents were collected. In most of them, as we could 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.
In up to three studies evaluating chronic diseasesSignificant reductions in the suffering of children were found. And the results were remarkable compared to the rest of the children who did not have access to these professionals. However, researchers do not hesitate to say 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 adjustment during the pediatric hospitalization process “, they underline.