Risk factors for the development of post‐traumatic stress disorder and coping strategies in mothers and fathers following infant hospitalisation in the neonatal intensive care unit

• Published in: Journal of clinical nursing 2017-12, Vol.26 (23-24), p.4436-4445
• Main Authors: Aftyka, Anna, Rybojad, Beata, Rosa, Wojciech, Wróbel, Aleksandra, Karakuła‐Juchnowicz, Hanna
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Adolescent; Adult; Apgar score; Child; Coping; father; Fathers; Fathers - psychology; Female; Hospitalization; Humans; Infant; Intensive care; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; Male; mother; Mothers; Mothers - psychology; Neonatal care; neonatal intensive care unit; neonate; Newborn babies; Nursing; Post traumatic stress disorder; Pregnancy; Quantitative analysis; Risk Factors; Self Report; Severity of Illness Index; Social Support; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - epidemiology; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - etiology; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0962-1067; 1365-2702
• DOI: 10.1111/jocn.13773

Aims and objectives The aim of this study was to identify the potential risk factors for the development of post‐traumatic stress disorder in mothers and fathers following infant hospitalisation in the neonatal intensive care unit. Background The development of neonatal intensive care units has increased the survival rate of infants. However, one of the major parental problems is post‐traumatic stress disorder. Design An observational study covered 125 parents (72 mothers and 53 fathers) of infants aged 3–12 months who were hospitalised in the neonatal intensive care unit during the neonatal period. Setting Third‐referral neonatal intensive care unit. Several standardised and self‐reported research tools were used to estimate the level of post‐traumatic stress symptoms (Impact Event Scale—Revised), perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale) and coping strategies (COPE Inventory). The respondents also completed a Parent and Infant Characteristic Questionnaire. Results The mothers and fathers did not differ in their parental and infant characteristics. Post‐traumatic stress disorder was present in 60% of the mothers and 47% of the fathers. Compared to the fathers, the mothers felt greater stress (p = .020) and presented a higher severity of post‐traumatic stress disorder (p