Stress, Anxiety, and Postpartum Depression in Parents with Premature Infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

AIM: This study aimed to determine stress, anxiety, and postpartum depression in parents with premature infants in neonatal intensive care unit. METHOD: This cross-sectional study was conducted between July 15 and November 31, 2021. The research involved 120 premature infants and their parents (120 mothers and 120 fathers). This research was carried out in Sanliurfa Mehmet Akif Inan Training and Research Hospital, third level neonatal intensive care unit. Introductory Information Form, Parental Stress Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale were used as data collection tools. RESULTS: Stress, anxiety, and depression were high in parents. Stress, anxiety, and postpartum depression mean scores of mothers were significantly higher than that of fathers. A positive correlation was found between stress, anxiety, and postpartum depression in parents. Simple regression analysis revealed that stress in mothers predicted depression by 5% and stress in fathers predicted anxiety by 30%. CONCLUSION: This study emphasizes that stress, anxiety, and depression are seen at high rates in parents with premature infants, and stress increases anxiety in fathers and depression in mothers.