Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 15, 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

Parental Anxiety Trajectories 2 Years After NICU Discharge

Lois C Span1, Nienke H van Dokkum1, Hendrik J Ter Horst1

  • 1Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Beatrix Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.

Pediatrics
|July 13, 2026
PubMed

Insights

High parental anxiety, especially in mothers, is common for infants treated in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Long-term mental health support is crucial for parents, regardless of infant complexity.

Area of Science:

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

Background:

  • Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission presents significant stress for parents.
  • Parental mental health, particularly anxiety, can impact family well-being and infant outcomes.
  • Longitudinal data on parental anxiety trajectories post-NICU discharge is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence and developmental course of anxiety in mothers and fathers of infants born preterm or with low birth weight.
  • To identify potential perinatal and neonatal predictors of parental anxiety.
  • To assess anxiety levels up to 24 months corrected age.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study of 315 infants (gestational age < 30 weeks and/or birth weight < 1000 g).
  • 298 mothers and 234 fathers completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) at 6, 12, and 24 months corrected age.
  • Multilevel linear modeling and regression analyses were used to examine anxiety trends and predictors.

Main Results:

  • At 6 months, 25.3% of mothers and 16.9% of fathers reported clinically significant anxiety, with mothers affected more frequently.
  • Maternal anxiety prevalence decreased over time, while paternal anxiety remained stable; differences between parents were not significant after 6 months.
  • No consistent associations were found between parental anxiety and perinatal/neonatal risk factors.

Conclusions:

  • A significant number of parents, especially mothers, experience persistent anxiety after their infant's NICU stay.
  • Findings highlight the need for ongoing mental health screening and support for parents of NICU graduates.
  • Support should be provided irrespective of the infant's medical condition complexity.
Abstract

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