Determination of Stress and Anxiety Levels of Parents of Infants Staying in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Year 2023, Volume: 3 Issue: 2, 109 - 115, 11.08.2023

Gamze Güney , Sema Bayraktar , Türkinaz Aşti

https://doi.org/10.58252/artukluder.1261657

Abstract

Introduction: Anxiety and stress in parents’ lives during their babies' NICU stays can have a negative impact on all family members. This study aimed to measure the stress and anxiety levels of parents of infants in the neonatal intensive care unit receiving oxygen support.
Methods: This study was conducted based on cross-sectional design with 123 parents of infants between 1 August 2020 and 01 May 2021. Data was gathered using the "State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)", "Parental Stressor Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (PSS: NICU)", and "Parent Information Form and Infant Information Form".
Results: The STAI scores of the parents were considered "moderately anxious" and the parents were "moderately stressed" based on the overall mean scores on the PSS: NICU and the mean scores on the subscales of the scale. It was found that parents’ number of children, employment, infant gender, type of delivery, intensive care environment characteristics, parents' communication with health personnel, and health condition all influenced their scores on the STAI and PSS: NICU subscales.
Conclusion: Providing a holistic and family-centred approach to parents, the closest relatives of their infants who will create future generations as well as educational and counselling roles played by nurses and reducing stress and anxiety experienced by parents, will have a positive impact on neonatal health.

Keywords

Anxiety, Parents, Nursing, Stress, Infant

Yenidoğan Yoğun Bakım Ünitesinde Bebeği Olan Ebeveynlerin Stres ve Kaygı Düzeylerinin Belirlenmesi

Abstract

Giriş: Bebekleri yenidoğan yoğun bakım ünitesinde kaldığı süre boyunca anne babaların hayatlarındaki kaygı ve stres tüm aile bireylerini kötü etkileyebilir. Bu çalışma, yenidoğan yoğun bakım ünitesinde yatan ve oksijen desteği alan bebeklerin ebeveynlerinin stres ve kaygı düzeylerini belirlemek amacıyla yapılmıştır.
Yöntem: Bu çalışma, 1 Ağustos 2020 – 01 Mayıs 2021 tarihleri arasında bebekleri olan 123 ebeveyn ile kesitsel desene dayalı olarak yapılmıştır. Veri toplamada Ebeveyn Bilgi Formu ve Bebek Bilgi Formu, Durumluluk ve Sürekli Kaygı Ölçeği (DSK) ve YYBÜ: Anne Baba Stres Ölçeği (ABS:YYBÜ) kullanılmıştır.
Bulgular: ABS:YYBÜ toplam puan ortalamaları ve ölçeğin alt ölçek puan ortalamalarına ve DSK puanlarına göre ebeveynlerin “orta derecede kaygılı” ve ebeveynlerin “orta derecede stresli” olduğu belirlendi. Anne ve babanın sahip olduğu çocuk sayısının, mesleğinin, bebeğin cinsiyetinin, doğum şeklinin, yoğun bakım ortamı özelliklerinin, anne babanın sağlık personeli ile iletişiminin ve bebeğin sağlık durumunun, anne ve baba stres ve anksiyete puanlarını etkilediği saptanmıştır.
Sonuç: Gelecek nesilleri oluşturacak bebeklerinin en yakınları olan anne ve babalara bütüncül ve aile merkezli bir yaklaşım gösterilmesi, hemşirelerin oynadıkları eğitici ve danışmanlık rolleri ile anne babaların yaşadıkları stres ve kaygıların azaltılması ile yenidoğan sağlığını olumlu yönde etkilenecektir.

Keywords

Anksiyete, Ebeveyn, Hemşirelik, Stres, Yenidoğan

References

• Jordan V, & Minikel M. Postpartum anxiety: More common than you think. The Journal of Family Practice. 2019;68(3):165-74.
• Missler M, Beijers R, Denisse, J, & Straten A.V. Effectiveness of a psycho-educational intervention to prevent postpartum parental distress and enhance infant wellbeing: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 2018;19 (4):2-12. doi: 10.1186/s13063-017-2348-y
• Özer E A, Demirel G, Tuzun F. Term Respiratory Distress in the Newborn Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention Guide. Turkish Neonatology Association. 2021. Date: June 07, 2022. Available from: https://www.neonatology.org.tr/storage/2020/12/TERM-YENIDOGAN-SOLUNUM-SIKINTISI-TANI-TEDAVI-PROTECTION-REHBERI202021.pdf
• Rungamornrat S, Karnjanawanich W, & Muangyoo U. Maternal participation in caring for a premature infant with respirator. Journal of Nursing Science. 2012;30(4):49-60.
• Sarapat P, Fongkaew F, Jintrawet U, Mesukko J, & Ray L. Perceptions and Practices of Parents in Caring for their Hospitalized Preterm İnfants. Pacific Rim İnternational Journal of Nursing Research. 2017;21(3):220-233.
• Russell G, Sawyer A, Rabe H, Abbott J, Gyte G, Duley L, & Ayers S. Parents’ views on care of their very premature babies in neonatal intensive care units: a qualitative study. BMC Pediatrics Journal. 2017; 4(14): 230. doi: 10.1186/1471-2431-14-230
• Matricardi S, Agostino R, Fedeli C, & Montirosso R. Mothers are not fathers: differences between parents in the reduction of stress levels after a parental intervention in a NICU. Acta Pediatrica 2013;102(1):8-14. doi: 10.1111/apa.12058 8. Miles M S, Funk SG, & Carlson J. Parental Stressor Scale: neonatal intensive care unit. Nursing research. 1993;42(3):148-152.
• Ionio C, Colombo C, Brazzoduro V, Mascheroni E, Confalonieri E, Castoldi F, & Lista G. Mothers and Fathers in NICU: The Impact of Preterm Birth on Parental Distress. Europe’s Journal of Psychology. 2016;12(4):604-621. doi: 10.5964/ejop.v12i4.1093
• Franck LS, Cox S, Allen A, Winter I. Measuring neonatal intensive care unit related parental stress. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 2005;49(6):608-615. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2004.03336.x
• Ong S L, Abdullah K L, Danaee M, Soh K L, & Japar S. Stress and anxiety among mothers of premature infants in a Malaysian neonatal intensive care unit. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology. 2018;37(2):197-205. doi: 10.1080/02646838.2018.1540861
• Akkoyun S, Arslan F. Investigation of stress and nursing support in mothers of preterm infants in neonatal intensive care units. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences. 2018; 33(2): 351-358. doi: 10.1111/scs.12630
• Öner N, & Le Compte A. (1983) State and Trait Anxiety Inventory Handbook, Boğaziçi University Press. Istanbul.
• Turan T, & Başbakkal Z. Study on Validity and Reliability of a Turkish Version of the Parental Stress Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Journal of Hacettepe University School of Nursing. 2006;13(2):32-42.
• Kilic S. Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient. Journal of Mood Disorders. 2006; 6(1):47. doi: 10.5455/jmood.20160307122823
• Musabirema P, Brysiewicz P, & Chipps J. Parents perceptions of stress in a neonatal intensive care unit in Rwanda, Curationis. Journal of the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa. 2015; 38(2): 1499. doi: 10.4102/curationis.v38i2.1499
• Pallás-Alonso C R, Losacco V, Maraschini A, Greisen G, Pierrat V, Warren I, ... & Cuttini M. Parental involvement and kangaroo care in European neonatal intensive care units: a policy survey in eight countries. Pediatric critical care medicine. 2012; 13(5): 568-577. doi: 10.1097/PCC.0b013e3182417959
• Alkozei A, McMahon E, & Lahav A. Stress levels and depressive symptoms in NICU mothers in the early postpartum period. Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine. 2014;27(17):1738-43. doi: 10.3109/14767058.2014.942626
• Chang LN, Long A, & Boore J. Taiwanese women’s experiences of becoming a mother to a very-low-birth-weight preterm infant: A grounded theory study. International Journal of Nursing Studies. 2009;46(3):326-336. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2008.10.004
• Stelwagen M A, Kempen A M, Westmaas A, Blees YJ, & Scheele F. Integration of Maternity and Neonatal Care to Empower Parents. Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing. 2020; 49(1): 65-77. doi: 10.1016/j.jogn.2019.11.003
• Blomqvist Y T, & Nyqvist K H. Swedish mothers’ experience of continuous Kangroo Mother Care. Journal of Clinical Nursing. 2011;20(9):1472-80. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2010.03369.x
• Arnold L, Sawyer A, Rabe H, Abbott J, Gyte G, Duley L, & Ayers S. Parents’ first moments with their very preterm babies: A qualitative study. BMJ Open. 2013;3:e002487. doi: 10.1136/ bmjopen-2012-002487