PortAventura Dreams Village stays improve well-being for pediatric patients and caregivers

A joint study by the PortAventura Foundation and Vall d’Hebron University Hospital has found that stays at PortAventura Dreams Village improve the emotional well-being of children and adolescents with serious chronic illnesses or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as well as their caregivers.

The research involved 105 participants aged 4 to 17 and their families from Vall d’Hebron, Sant Joan de Déu, and the Niño Jesús University Children's Hospital in Madrid. Participants underwent six-day stays involving free accommodation and park access without specific therapeutic interventions. Evaluations were conducted before the stay, one week after, and four weeks after.

Results indicated a statistically significant reduction in the burden on caregivers, measured by the Zarit scale, which assesses physical, emotional, and social exhaustion. The study also noted a reduction in anxiety levels, with some improvements persisting up to four weeks after the experience. Researchers noted that a break from the routine of medical treatments and care can positively impact family emotional well-being.