Post-traumatic stress symptoms in a partner as an essential predictor for post-traumatic stress symptoms in the mothers and fathers of children previously treated in NICU

Abstract

PurposeThe aim of the study was: (1) to determine whether post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) intensification in a spouse/partner is an essential predictor for PTSS intensification in the parents of children who were treated in the NICU during the neonatal period and (2) to indicate the relationship between psychological variables linked to stress intensification and coping styles with PTSS intensification. DesignThe research sample consisted of 41 couples of parents of infants aged between 3 and 11 months old, who had been treated in a NICU during the neonatal period. The Impact Event Scale – Revised was used to assess PTSS, the Perceived Stress Scale was applied to assess stress, and the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations was used to measure the coping style. Data were analysed statistically using descriptive statistics, and hierarchical regression was performed to indicate PTSS predictors. ResultsPTSS intensification in men was 39.17 ± 17.17 points and in women it was 48.93 ± 18.97 points. The majority of the fathers (68.5%) and of the mothers (82.9%) scored more than 33 points in the IES-R scale, which suggests PTSD. Significant PTSS predictors in the fathers were: PTSS intensification in the partner, the level of perceived stress and emotion-oriented coping. Significant PTSS predictors in women were: avoidance-oriented style in stressful situations and PTSD intensification in the father. ConclusionPost-traumatic stress symptoms in a partner is a significant predictor for post-traumatic stress symptoms in the mothers and fathers of children previously treated in NICU. Practice implicationsDemonstrating a significant correlation between PTSS in a parent and their partner, as well as stress coping has crucial clinical implications both in terms of prevention and diagnosis.