Parent Psychological Distress in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Within the Context of the Social Ecological Model:...

Area of Science:

• Neonatal care
• Parental mental health
• Psychosocial well-being

Background:

• Parents in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) are susceptible to psychological distress and mental health challenges.
• Existing statistics on parental psychological distress in the NICU setting show considerable variation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively review the existing literature on the mental health and psychosocial well-being of parents with infants in the NICU.
• To identify factors contributing to parent mental health within the NICU environment.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review was conducted using the Arksey and O'Malley framework and the Social-Ecological Model (SEM).
• A systematic literature review adhering to the PRISMA methodology was performed.
• The review aimed to answer: "What factors contribute to parent's mental health in the NICU?"

Main Results:

• Common socioeconomic factors and specific infant and parent characteristics increase the risk of parental distress.
• Identified themes contributing to distress include: history of mental illness, family cohesion, birth trauma, altered parenting role, gestational age, birth weight, and illness severity.

Conclusions:

• Further research is needed to establish standardized screening and assessment protocols for parental mental health in the NICU.
• The mental health impact on all types of parents, including non-birth parents, requires further investigation.