Research Article

The Burden of Uncertainty: The Impact of Prolonged Pediatric Hospitalization on Parental Mental Health

Volume: 9 Number: 3 December 30, 2025
TR EN

The Burden of Uncertainty: The Impact of Prolonged Pediatric Hospitalization on Parental Mental Health

Abstract

Aims: Problems that occur during the growth and development processes of childhood cause the child to encounter illnesses. Children getting sick and being hospitalized cause sudden changes in the general life of family members. The hospital environment is an unfamiliar environment for both the child and the parent. Since the hospitalization of the child causes various changes within the family, this situation causes new stress factors for the mother and father. Stress, anxiety and depression in parents negatively affect the child and prevent parents from being sufficiently involved in the care of their children. This study aims to determine the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and stress, anxiety levels and depression in parents of child patients who have been hospitalized for a long time. Method: The study was conducted using a cross-sectional and purposeful sampling method, which is one of the quantitative research methods. The research was conducted with the parents of child patients who were hospitalized at SBÜ. Van Education and Research Hospital between June 2023 and November 2023. 147 parents whose children were hospitalized, who met the inclusion criteria and agreed to participate in the study, were included in the study. Results: The mean age of the participants was (28.80±6.27), almost all of them were female (n:132) and married (99.3%, n=146). The duration of hospitalization ranged from 7 to 120 (10.83±13.85) days. When the mean scores were examined, depression was 5.26±4.38 (0-21), anxiety was 4.57±4.17 (0-20), stress was 5.15±3.63 (0-15). From the mean scores of the subscales, anticipatory anxiety was 20.79±6.11 (7-35), inhibitory anxiety was 13.30±5.65 (5-25) and the total score of the BSI was 34.10±10.61 (12-55). Of the participants in the study, 19.0% had mild depression, 19.0% had moderate depression, 6.8% had severe depression, and 6.1% had severe depression. Conclusion: The evidence strongly supports the idea that intolerance of uncertainty significantly impacts the mental health of parents whose children are hospitalized. Addressing intolerance of uncertainty through targeted interventions may provide a pathway to improve mental health outcomes for these parents, ultimately improving both their well-being and their ability to support their children through difficult times.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

After the approval of the research ethics committee was obtained from Van Yüzüncü Yıl University Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee dated 17.03.2023 and numbered 2023/03-02, written permission was obtained from Van Education and Research Hospital Chief Physician's Office and Van Provincial Health Directorate where the research would be conducted. In accordance with the relevant articles of the Helsinki Declaration, all patients and their relatives participating in the study were given detailed information about the study and verbal and written consent was obtained from the participants.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Mental Health Nursing

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

December 30, 2025

Submission Date

May 9, 2025

Acceptance Date

October 3, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 9 Number: 3

APA
Göktürk, N., Ayhan, C. H., Aktaş, M. C., & Aktaş, S. (2025). The Burden of Uncertainty: The Impact of Prolonged Pediatric Hospitalization on Parental Mental Health. Arel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, 9(3), 1-40. https://izlik.org/JA57EJ59ZL
AMA
1.Göktürk N, Ayhan CH, Aktaş MC, Aktaş S. The Burden of Uncertainty: The Impact of Prolonged Pediatric Hospitalization on Parental Mental Health. J. H. Sci. Arel U. 2025;9(3):1-40. https://izlik.org/JA57EJ59ZL
Chicago
Göktürk, Nurdane, Cemile Hürrem Ayhan, Mehmet Cihad Aktaş, and Sakine Aktaş. 2025. “The Burden of Uncertainty: The Impact of Prolonged Pediatric Hospitalization on Parental Mental Health”. Arel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 9 (3): 1-40. https://izlik.org/JA57EJ59ZL.
EndNote
Göktürk N, Ayhan CH, Aktaş MC, Aktaş S (December 1, 2025) The Burden of Uncertainty: The Impact of Prolonged Pediatric Hospitalization on Parental Mental Health. Arel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 9 3 1–40.
IEEE
[1]N. Göktürk, C. H. Ayhan, M. C. Aktaş, and S. Aktaş, “The Burden of Uncertainty: The Impact of Prolonged Pediatric Hospitalization on Parental Mental Health”, J. H. Sci. Arel U., vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 1–40, Dec. 2025, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA57EJ59ZL
ISNAD
Göktürk, Nurdane - Ayhan, Cemile Hürrem - Aktaş, Mehmet Cihad - Aktaş, Sakine. “The Burden of Uncertainty: The Impact of Prolonged Pediatric Hospitalization on Parental Mental Health”. Arel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 9/3 (December 1, 2025): 1-40. https://izlik.org/JA57EJ59ZL.
JAMA
1.Göktürk N, Ayhan CH, Aktaş MC, Aktaş S. The Burden of Uncertainty: The Impact of Prolonged Pediatric Hospitalization on Parental Mental Health. J. H. Sci. Arel U. 2025;9:1–40.
MLA
Göktürk, Nurdane, et al. “The Burden of Uncertainty: The Impact of Prolonged Pediatric Hospitalization on Parental Mental Health”. Arel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 9, no. 3, Dec. 2025, pp. 1-40, https://izlik.org/JA57EJ59ZL.
Vancouver
1.Nurdane Göktürk, Cemile Hürrem Ayhan, Mehmet Cihad Aktaş, Sakine Aktaş. The Burden of Uncertainty: The Impact of Prolonged Pediatric Hospitalization on Parental Mental Health. J. H. Sci. Arel U. [Internet]. 2025 Dec. 1;9(3):1-40. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA57EJ59ZL

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