Exploring parental stress and spiritual needs in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)

This study aimed to examine the relationship between parental stress and spiritual well-being and to identify the spiritual care needs of parents with infants hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

This descriptive and correlational study was conducted with 291 parents whose infants were hospitalized in a NICU. Data were collected using a personal information form, the Parental Stressor Scale for Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (PSS-NICU), the Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS), and the Patient Spiritual Needs Assessment Scale.

The mean PSS-NICU and SWBS scores were 123.85 ± 21.34 and 110.62 ± 11.29, respectively. Mothers had significantly higher stress and spiritual well-being levels than fathers (p < 0.001). Low gestational/postnatal age, birth weight, multiple/first pregnancies, no infant interaction or feeding before NICU, irregular visits, ventilated/parenterally fed infants, and no care participation increased parental stress; vaginal birth, care participation, and expressed breast milk improved spiritual well-being (p < 0.05). A weak but significant negative correlation was found between stress and spiritual well-being (r = -0.170; p < 0.05). Spiritual needs differ by gender; mothers tend to have more emotional and internal needs, while fathers have greater needs for meaning, service, and intellectual fulfillment.

Supporting the spiritual well-being of NICU parents is essential in mitigating the stress they experience throughout their infants' hospitalization.

In the NICU, spiritual and psychological well-being should be supported through practices such as early contact, participation in infant care, feeding with breast milk, and regular visits. Health professionals must identify and address parents' spiritual needs to reduce stress and enhance psychological well-being.