Article Review 1

Running head: ARTICLE REVIEW

Journal of Nonverbal Behavior Article Review

Bayan Dalgamouni

Dr. Flora

September 07, 2010

 Article Review 2

Summary
Previous research indicates that child pain and distress and parents’ communication
during cancer treatment are related. In this study, Peterson, Cline, Foster, Penner, Parrott, Keller,
Naughton, Taub, Ruckdeschel and Albrecht (2007) conducted a study to describe the relative
frequency of caregivers’ use of nonverbal immediacy behaviors, interpersonal distance and
touch, and examine relations between those behaviors and child pain and distress during painful
pediatric oncology procedures.
This study proposed two competing hypotheses: first, caregiver social support increases
child distress; second, caregiver social support reduces child distress by validating the child’s
experience as legitimate and partnering with the child to cope during the procedure (Cline et al.,
2006).
To obtain data for the study, 29 children and their primary familial caregivers were
participating in this study. This research was conducted at an urban comprehensive children’s
hospital. The research assistant provided questionnaires to the caregivers during a home visit,
and then the research assistant monitored the videorecording process when the caregiver and
child entered the treatment room. Video recordings for nonverbal immediacy (i.e., interpersonal
distance and touch behaviors) were coded in real time using a framework of identified behaviors.
The results of the study revealed that, the present results do not offer a final answer for
the proposed hypotheses regarding the causal relation between caregivers’ social support and
children’s distress. Nonverbal social support in the format of touch -instrumental touch or
supportive touch- does not enhance child distress. The results suggest that caregivers social
support messages and supportive touch occur in response to an already distressed child.
Furthermore, caregivers’ instrumental touch occurs to completing the medical procedure
(Peterson, Cline, Foster, Penner, Parrott, Keller, Naughton, Taub, Ruckdeschel & Albrecht,
2007)
Researchers found that (17.2%) of caregivers who did not touch the children, or touched
minimally during the treatment procedure. Moreover, 27.6% of children who received no
supportive touch during the treatment procedure. They stated that, in this threatening situation,
many children were missing caregiver social support and communication that might prevent
distress.

When I read the article I thought the results of the study would be different than the
present results. In other words, I thought that parents’ use of nonverbal immediacy (i.e., touch
and interpersonal distance) as emotional support would be highly used during cancer treatment
procedure. Although I am 24 years old, married and pregnant, I still remember my mother taking
me to my medical appointment and I wish if she is still with me. I always remember how close
and intimate she was. From my experience, I believe that young children need their parents care,
touch and closeness to support them during any medical procedures not just cancer treatment.

References
 Article Review 3

Peterson, A. M., Cline, R. J. W., Foster, T. S., Penner, L. A., Parrott, R. L., Keller, C. M.,
Naughton, M. C., Taub, J. W., Ruckdeschel, J. C., & Albrecht, T. L. (2007). Parents’
interpersonal distance and touch behavior and child pain and distress during painful
pediatric oncology procedures. Journal of Nonverbal Behavior, 31, 2, 79–97,
DOI 10.1007/s10919-007-0023-9.