Abstract
This paper aims firstly to present a developmental approach in child health focusing on theoretical-conceptual models about the impact of early stress on child development and health; secondly it aims to present studies on Pediatric Psychology which were carried out in a public teaching hospital with hospitalized neonates and children whose clinical conditions and medical treatment involved highly stressful situations. This paper examines the main theoreticalconceptual models of early stress with impact on child development and health, namely those proposed by Sameroff; Evans and Wachs; Shonkoff; and Kazak. These authors address the exposure of neonates, children, and their mothers to stressful situations during hospitalization and preventive interventions for the management of stress and/or pain. Finally, a model with guidelines to promote transfer of scientific evidence into clinical practice is introduced aiming to implement changes in the hospital context.
Keywords:
Child development; Early stress; Psychology, Child; Child health