Stress levels and depressive symptoms in NICU mothers in the early postpartum period

Jul 10, 2014The journal of maternal-fetal & neonatal medicine : the official journal of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians

Stress and depression symptoms in mothers after early newborn intensive care

AI simplified

Circadian Biology on OpenScience ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Abstract

Fifty-two percent of mothers of preterm infants reported increased stress upon NICU admission.

Stress related to changes in parental roles was the most significant source of stress for NICU mothers.
Distance from the hospital and being married were linked to higher stress related to changes in parental roles and NICU sights and sounds.
Thirty-eight percent of mothers exhibited significant depressive symptoms upon NICU admission.
Higher levels of stress were correlated with increased depressive scores.
Maternal mental health, demographic, pregnancy factors, and infant characteristics were not found to be associated with increased stress.

AI simplified

OBJECTIVE: This study examined whether particular maternal and infant factors can identify mothers at risk for increased stress upon admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

METHODS: Eighty-five mothers of preterm infants (25-34 weeks gestation) were assessed using the Parental Stressor Scale (PSS:NICU) and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) within 3.24 ± 1.58 d postpartum. Hierarchical linear regression models were used to determine the extent to which maternal stress is influenced by individual factors.

RESULTS: Fifty-two percent of mothers experienced increased stress (PSS:NICU score ≥3) and 38% had significant depressive symptoms (EPDS score ≥10). Stress related to alterations in parental role was the most significant source of stress among NICU mothers. Distance from the hospital and married marital status were significant predictors for stress related to alterations in parental role (p = 0.003) and NICU sights and sounds (p = 0.01), respectively. Higher stress levels were associated with higher depressive scores (p = 0.001). Maternal mental health factors, demographic factors, pregnancy factors and infant characteristics were not associated with increased stress.

CONCLUSION: Elevated stress levels and depressive symptoms are already present in mothers of preterm infants upon NICU admission. Being married or living long distance from the hospital is associated with higher stress. Future work is needed to develop effective interventions for alleviating stress in NICU mothers and preventing its potential development into postnatal depression.

Full Text

Full text is available at the source.

View full text ↗

Stress levels and depressive symptoms in NICU mothers in the early postpartum period

Abstract

Full Text

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief

Abstract

Full Text

Related papers

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief