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Updated: Jun 29, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

Relationship Between Parents' Mental Health and Infant Admission to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Sultan Qaboos

Jahad Al Omairi1, Abrar Al Balushi1, Hana Al Sumri1

  • 1Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal
|April 2, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Parents of infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) experience high rates of depression and anxiety. Factors like younger parental age, prematurity, and infant resuscitation are linked to increased psychological distress.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Care
  • Parental Mental Health
  • Perinatal Psychology

Background:

  • Neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) provide critical care for vulnerable infants.
  • Parental mental health is significantly impacted by infant admission to the NICU.
  • Understanding risk factors for parental psychological distress is crucial for timely intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess depression, anxiety, and stress levels in parents of NICU-admitted infants.
  • To examine associations between parental sociodemographic factors and infant clinical characteristics with parental mental health outcomes.
  • To identify specific risk factors contributing to psychological distress in this population.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 86 parents of NICU-admitted infants at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital.
  • Validated Arabic version of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-42) used for mental health assessment.
  • Sociodemographic and clinical data collected via structured questionnaires; statistical analyses performed (P ≤0.05).

Main Results:

  • Anxiety was most prevalent (23.3%), followed by depression (18.6%) and stress (10.5%).
  • Younger parental age (20-29 years), prematurity, male infant sex, multiple births, infant resuscitation, and history of stillbirth were significantly associated with increased psychological distress.
  • Parents of male infants reported higher depression and anxiety; anxiety was more prevalent in parents of multiples.

Conclusions:

  • Younger parental age, prematurity, male infant sex, multiple births, infant resuscitation, and history of stillbirth are significant risk factors for parental psychological distress in the NICU setting.
  • These findings underscore the necessity for routine psychological screening and support services for parents with infants in the NICU.
  • Targeted interventions addressing identified risk factors can improve parental well-being and infant outcomes.
Abstract

Keywords:
AnxietyDepressionNICUOmanParentsPsychologyStress

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