期刊名称：International Journal of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
印刷版ISSN：2163-1948
电子版ISSN：2163-1956
出版年度：2017
卷号：7
期号：1
页码：27-31
DOI：10.5923/j.ijpbs.20170701.05
语种：English
出版社：Scientific & Academic Publishing Co.
摘要：Objective: To determine the stress levels among parents of babies admitted in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and to identify demographic parameters that influence their stress levels. Methods: A cross sectional study was done at a tertiary care hospital in South India over a three month period. Stress levels were assessed using Parental Stressor Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (PSS: NICU) questionnaire among 100 extramural NICU parents (mother or father) by doctors with more than 24 hours of admission. Stress was quantified using Likert scale. The statistical analysis was done using R programming software. Results: The mean scores for the subscales sights and sounds, looks and behavior, alteration in the parental role and staff behavior and communication were (1.75), (2.11), (2.48) and (1.47) respectively. Maturity of baby, parents’ gender in sights and sounds domain and parents’ education in staff behavior domain were associated with higher stress levels respectively, as rest of the stress levels are not significant due to small sample size. Conclusions: Combined, the findings of the present study which not only documents stress experienced by parents of NICU infants but also highlight emotional consequences and the individual nature of parents’ response to the NICU experience. NICU parents are under moderate stress and appropriate counseling targeted towards specific stressors is required. Future research should monitor more closely how parental stress changes throughout the infant’s NICU stay. This information can be used to design effective coping strategies for parents at different time points during their infant’s hospitalization.
关键词：Parents’ stress;Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU);Stressor PSS: NICU
