Intrusions of Territory and Personal Space: An Exploratory Study of Anxiety-Inducing Factors in Hospitalized Patients

Abstract

To test the hypothesis that hospitalized patients will experience anxiety when intrusions of territorial and personal space occur, seventy-six patients in four metropolitan Chicago hospitals were asked twenty-seven questions. Mean scores for all situations were calculated and responses compared on the following variables: type of hospital; length of hospitalization; and patients' age, sex, nationality, birthplace, and size of family. Patients were found to have feelings of anxiety when intrusions of territory occurred, but personal space intrusions seemingly were viewed with indifference. Results of chi-square and t tests revealed no significant differences in the groups compared, suggesting that these variables have no influence over how patients feel with regard to territorial and personal space intrusions.