engleski

Stress Experienced by Parents in The Neonatal Intensive Care Units

Background: It is well established that the birth and hospitalization of a preterm infant is a stressful experience for parents, particularly mothers and may lead to mental health problems. The parental stress may be related to illness and treatments the neonate is undergoing, separation from the neonate and social and relationship issues. Several studies have reported that a high parental stress may be risk factor for future social, behavioural and functional development of preterm infants. The objective of this study was to determine the level and source of stress experienced by parents of premature infants hospitalized in two neonatal intensive care units (NICU) in Zagreb, Croatia. Methods: In preliminary analysis, 29 parents (aged 17 to 42) of premature infants admitted to two regional NICU, were included. Parents completed the Parental Stressor Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, External Stressors Scale, Stress Reduction Scale, the COPE - SF and the satisfaction survey. Infants were mostly first born, with birth weight from 590 to 3520 gr (mean 1243 gr), gestational age from 23 to 37 (mean 29, 2). Results: The findings indicate that all parents have high levels of general psychological distress. From techniques for reducing stress, parents mostly use confiding in friends or family and researching about infants condition and only two of them use professional counseling. The most stressful dimension from stressors in NICU is parental relationship and parental role. This dimension is significantly more expressed in mothers than fathers. From stressors outside the hospital environment, parents score as most stressful the impact of significant others on their feelings and emotional needs. Further studies on larger sample should explore other factors contributing to parental stress, coping styles and practical implications for neonatal care in Croatia.

parental stress, neonatal intensive care, preterm infants

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