Abstract

The main goal of this study is to present the Italian version of an American questionnaire which assesses children's coping strategies to physical pain (PPCI, Varni e Waldron, 1996). The questionnaire was given to 186 healthy and to 100 hospitalized children and to their mothers. The results showed that both the versions of the questionnaire (for child and for parent) have good validity and reliability. Italian children preferred Social Support to cope with physical pain, while American children preferred Cognitive Strategies. With increasing age, healthy but not hospitalized Italian children use more Cognitive Strategies.