Comparison of correlation between spiritual health of parents and level of their attachment to the preterm neonate

Abstract

ObjectivesA neonate's hospitalization in the NICU causes physical, mental, and emotional separation of the neonate from the parents, thus interrupting the creation of the natural process of maternal-paternal-neonatal attachment. Spiritual health affects all dimensions of health including the process of communication with others and the environment. Attachment is also a form of communication. Thus, the present study compared the correlation between the spiritual health of parents and their level of their attachment to their preterm neonate. MethodsThis descriptive-correlational study was conducted on 226 parents with preterm neonates hospitalized in the NICU by a convenient sampling method. The research instruments included a demographic information questionnaire of parents and neonates, Spiritual Well-Being Scale, and a Maternal & Paternal Postnatal Attachment Scale. The data were analyzed with SPSS20. ResultsThe mean “religious health” of mothers (54.30 ± 3.69) was significantly higher than in fathers (53.03 ± 4.94) (P = 0.03). There was no statistically significant difference between the average “existential health” of mother and father (P = 0.24) and the total “spiritual health” score between them (P = 0.27). The mean total score of maternal and paternal attachment to their preterm neonate were 83.86 ± 4.23 and 78.32 ± 5.61, respectively. Regarding the correlation between spiritual health and maternal and paternal attachment, all of the correlation coefficients were positive, and for a one unit increase in the score of spiritual health, the total score of maternal and paternal attachment increased by 0.27 and 0.20, respectively, meaning that the correlation between the mother's spiritual health and level of her attachment to her preterm neonate was stronger compared to this attachment in the father. ConclusionConsidering the significant correlation between spiritual health and attachment, as well as the stronger correlation in mothers compared to fathers, it is possible that applying educational programs to improve the attachment of parents, especially in the mother, can play a significant role in the field of spiritual health.