Publication:

Stress perception and its determinants among parents of NICU-admitted neonates: a tertiary care study

Background Admission of a newborn to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is frequently associated with significant psychological stress among parents due to uncertainty regarding prognosis, complex medical interventions, and disruption of expected parental roles. Assessing parental stress and identifying influencing factors are essential for strengthening family-centered neonatal care.

Methods A single-center, hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 60 parents (60 couples) of neonates admitted to the NICU of LNMC & JK Hospital, Bhopal. Parents of neonates admitted for ≥24 hours were enrolled using consecutive convenience sampling. Sociodemographic and neonatal clinical details were recorded using a semi-structured proforma. Parental stress was assessed using the validated Parental Stressor Scale: NICU (PSS:NICU). Data were analyzed using R statistical software. Descriptive statistics, paired and independent t-tests, and Pearson’s correlation were applied. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results Mothers reported significantly higher stress scores than fathers in sight and sound (63.11±12.23 vs 56.85±13.33), infant appearance (79.83±6.84 vs 72.53±6.19), and parental role alteration (87.48±5.22 vs 77.90±5.39) domains (p<0.001). Staff-related stress was comparable (p=0.653). Parental role alteration was the highest stress domain overall. A significant negative correlation was observed between parental age and stress (fathers r=-0.441; mothers r=-0.351; p<0.001). Birth weight and NICU stay duration were not significantly associated with stress levels.

Conclusions Parental stress in the NICU is significant and predominantly affects mothers. Early identification of vulnerable parents and implementation of structured counseling and family-centered interventions are essential to enhance coping and improve neonatal care outcomes.