Keywords
Health Literacy
Pediatrics
Adolescent
Boredom
How to Cite
Abstract
Introduction. Adolescence is a critical developmental period characterised by profound physical, psychological, and social changes. Hospitalisation for acute illness may increase adolescents’ vulnerability, particularly when care pathways are not tailored to their specific needs. Among the emotional experiences reported during hospital stays, boredom has emerged as a frequent yet understudied phenomenon in adolescents. At the same time, hospitalisation may represent an opportunity to enhance health literacy, a key competence influencing adolescents’ current and future health behaviours. Understanding the relationship between boredom and health literacy may support the development of patient-centred interventions aimed at improving the hospital experience.
Methods. This is a single-centre, cross-sectional observational study conducted in the paediatric ward of Lodi Hospital (Italy). Adolescents aged 12–17 years hospitalised for acute medical or surgical conditions and one accompanying parent will be consecutively enrolled. Adolescent boredom will be assessed daily using the Multidimensional State Boredom Scale – Italian Adolescent Version, while parental boredom will be measured using the adult version of the same scale. Health literacy will be evaluated on the first day of hospitalisation using the Health Literacy for School-Aged Children (HLSAC) scale. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses will be performed to explore predictors and associations.
Results. The study is expected to provide the first quantitative evidence on boredom levels among hospitalised adolescents and their parents, as well as adolescents’ health literacy levels. Associations between boredom, health literacy, and contextual factors may emerge, identifying subgroups at higher risk.
Discussion. Findings will contribute to a better understanding of the adolescent hospital experience and inform the development of targeted interventions to improve emotional well-being, engagement, and quality of care in paediatric settings.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Stefano Maiandi, Iryna Zavadina, Stefania Mondini, Anna Baldo, Ester Busca, Stefania Sciglitano, Debora Guerreschi , Domenico Scognamiglio, Greta Ghizzardi, Eleonora Aloi