NICU admissions and maternal stress levels

Area of Science:

• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) care
• Maternal mental health
• Pediatric nursing

Background:

• The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) environment presents unique challenges for mothers.
• Understanding maternal stress is crucial for infant well-being and family-centered care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify stress levels in mothers with infants admitted to the NICU.
• To identify demographic factors influencing maternal stress in the NICU setting.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Parental Stressor Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (PSS: NICU) questionnaire for 100 mothers.
• Assessed stress using a Likert scale (low, medium, high) between days 6-8 of admission.
• Analyzed data using SPSS version 16.

Main Results:

• Mean scores for 'sights and sounds' were 2.55, 'looks and behavior' 4.1, and 'alteration in parental role' 4.12.
• Higher maternal age, infant prematurity, extended NICU stays, and breastfeeding difficulties correlated with increased stress.
• Significant stress was observed in NICU mothers, particularly concerning their baby's behavior and their parental role.

Conclusions:

• NICU mothers face considerable psychological distress.
• Interventions should focus on specific stressors, including parental role alterations and infant appearance/behavior.
• Targeted counseling is essential to support mothers in the NICU environment.