Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 7, 2025
Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Parental stress and nurse-parent support in the neonatal intensive care unit: a cross-sectional study
Dilek Konukbay1,2, Mürşide Vural3, Dilek Yildiz3
1Gulhane Faculty of Nursing, Department of Pediatric Nursing, University of Health Sciences Turkey, Ankara, Turkey. dilek.konukbay@gmail.com.
Insights
NICU nurses provide crucial support to parents of preterm infants, impacting stress levels and well-being. This study highlights factors influencing parental stress and nurse support in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nursing
- Parental adaptation to infant hospitalization
- Psychosocial support in critical care
Background:
- Admission of a preterm infant to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is a significant source of stress for parents.
- NICU nurses are vital in providing support, positively influencing parental health and stress management.
- Understanding the interplay between parental stress and nurse support is crucial for optimizing family-centered care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess parental stress and nurse support for parents with preterm infants in the NICU.
- To explore the relationship between parental stress, nurse support, and demographic/infant variables.
- To identify factors influencing the quality and effectiveness of nurse-parent interactions in the NICU.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive cross-sectional study involving 150 parents (75 mothers, 75 fathers) of preterm infants in a NICU.
- Data collection utilized the Parent and Infant Information Form, Parental Stressor Scale: NICU (PSS: NICU), and Nurse-Parent Support Tool (NPST).
- Statistical analyses were performed to examine correlations and differences in stress and support scores based on parental and infant characteristics.
Main Results:
- No significant overall correlation was found between Parental Stressor Scale: NICU (PSS: NICU) and Nurse-Parent Support Tool (NPST) scores.
- Significant differences were observed in overall NPST scores and the emotional support subscale.
- Parental stress and nurse support were influenced by factors such as infant information, marital duration, number of children, infant respiratory status, and parental participation in infant care.
Conclusions:
- Mothers reported receiving greater nurse support compared to fathers.
- Maternal nurse support was higher for mothers with one child, while mechanical ventilation and having multiple children were associated with reduced support for mothers.
- Lower stress levels were observed in mothers married for 6-10 years, those well-informed about their infant, and fathers actively involved in infant care, particularly those with multiple children.
Background:
Admission of a preterm infant to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is highly stressful for parents. NICU nurses play a crucial role in providing support, positively impacting health and aiding effective stress management during this challenging period. This study assesses stress and nurse-parent support for parents with preterm infants in the NICU, exploring connections between stress, support, and various parental and infant variables.
Methods:
This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between January and July 2019 on a total of 150 parents (75 mothers and 75 fathers) with preterm infants in a private hospital's NICU in Ankara, Turkey. Data were collected using the Parent and Infant Information Form, Parental Stressor Scale: NICU (PSS: NICU), and Nurse-Parent Support Tool (NPST).
Results:
There was no significant correlation between PSS: NICU and NPST scores (p > 0.05). However, a significant difference was observed in the overall NPST score (p = 0.036) and its emotional support subscale (p = 0.013). Mothers' PSS: NICU was influenced by infant information (p = 0.027) and marital duration ((p = 0.002), while fathers' was influenced by number of children (p = 0.040) and infant care participation (p = 0.001). NPST was affected by number of children (p = 0.004) and infant respiratory status (p = 0.011) for mothers and number of children for fathers (p = 0.038). Since parents require informational, emotional, and care-related support, nurses should continuously enhance their professional and communication skills to establish effective communication with parents and provide targeted support.
Conclusion:
This study found mothers received greater nurse support than fathers. Mothers with one child had higher nurse support, while mechanical ventilation for mothers and having more than one child for fathers were linked to reduced support. Lower stress levels were noted in mothers married for 6-10 years, those informed about the infant, and fathers actively participating in infant care with more than one child.
More Related Videos
11:50Clinical Practice Protocol of Creative Music Therapy for Preterm Infants and Their Parents in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Published on: January 7, 2020
06:39Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants
Published on: June 13, 2021
Related Concept Videos
00:55Parental Care
01:27Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...
01:17Ethical Dilemmas I
Let us explore some examples to understand the potentially complex moral decisions nurses face.
Take the case of caring for minors, particularly in areas related to reproductive...
01:28Current Trends in Nursing I
01:22The Professional Nurse
Communication skills: These are critical characteristics, especially speaking and listening.
01:23Nurses' Legal Responsibilities II
Communication between nurses and...