Sources Of Stress For Mothers Research Articles

Relationship between Maternal Stress and Neurobehavioral Indicators of Preterm Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Preterm birth and prolonged neonatal hospitalization are potential sources of stress for mothers of preterm and low birth weight infants. To evaluate maternal stress and its association with neurobehavioral indicators of preterm infants during hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a neonatal intensive care unit of a hospital in Goiânia, Brazil. The study included preterm and low birth weight infants of both genders and their mothers. The Parental Stressor Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and the Neurobehavioral Assessment of the Preterm Infant were respectively applied to mothers and infants in the neonatal intensive care unit. The study involved 165 premature infants and their mothers. The mean age of the mothers was 26.3 years and most had a high school education level (57.6%). Mothers perceived the experience of having an infant in the neonatal intensive care unit as moderately stressful (2.96 ± 0.81). The parental role alteration (4.11 ± 1.03) and sights and sounds (2.15 ± 0.90) subscales exhibited the highest and lowest stress levels, respectively. Significant correlations (rho < -0.3; p < 0.05) were found between maternal stress and neurobehavioral indicators of infants. In the multivariate analysis, low leg tone was a predictor of higher maternal stress. Low tone and limited arm movement were predictors of higher maternal stress in the maternal role item. The experience of having a preterm infant hospitalized was considered moderately stressful for mothers. Maternal stress levels were significantly correlated with low scores on neonatal neurobehavioral indicators.

Factors Influencing Maternal Stress during Infant’s NICU Stay in a Tertiary Care Center, South Kerala, India: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Recent advances in neonatal medicine have helped sick babies survive. However, the birth of a baby needing Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) stay may be a significant source of stress for mothers. Aim: To assess the maternal stress level perceived due to an infant’s NICU stay and the factors influencing this stress. Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted in the NICU of Pushpagiri Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Thiruvalla, Kerala, India, between March 2021 and September 2021. The study included 74 mothers of infants requiring at least five days of NICU stay. The stress levels were recorded using the Parental Stressor Scale: NICU (PSS:NICU) questionnaire, which included 27 items under three stressor domains: Sights and Sounds (SS), Parental Role Alteration (PRA), and looks and behaviour of the baby. Data were statistically analysed using the Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Results: In the study group, 33 (45%) mothers experienced moderate stress, 18 (24%) experienced a high level, and the remaining 23 (31%) experienced only low-level stress. The overall maternal stress perceived in the study group was found to be at a moderate level with a mean of 3.36±0.67. Factors causing stress in mothers included prematurity, low birth weight, low 1st-minute Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity and Respiration (Apgar) score, expressed breastfeeding, and previous experience with abortion. Conclusion: The present study found that mothers experienced moderate stress when their babies were admitted to the NICU. Significant stress was experienced by mothers when they were unable to perform their maternal duties.

Exploring the Lived Experiences of Mothers of Children with Specific Learning Disability (SLD): A Phenomenological Study

Introduction: The presence of a child with a specific learning disability in the family who needs care and has special educational problems is a source of stress for mothers, affecting their mental health and adjustment. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of mothers of children with specific learning disability (SLD). Methods: This qualitative study was conducted using a phenomenological approach. The participants were 14 mothers of children with specific learning disability (SLD) whose data were collected through semi-structured interviews. The participants were selected using purposive sampling and the collected data were analyzed via Colaizzi's method of data analysis. Results: Analysis of the data revealed 4 main themes including “impact on family”, “the mother’s life”, “the student’s problems”, “concerns”, and “needs”, and 14 subthemes. Conclusion: The present study showed that specific learning disability has diverse effects on the child, mother, and family, and recognizing these effects can pave the way for taking supportive and therapeutic measures.

Predictors of parental stress from admission to discharge in the neonatal special care unit.

Exacerbated parental stress during a stay in the neonatal intensive care unit can negatively impact the development of the hospitalized infant, strain the dyadic relationship and put parents at risk for poor mental health. It is therefore important to identify risk factors of stress throughout the duration of a hospitalization. This longitudinal study aimed to investigate sources of stress for mothers and fathers who had a baby in the neonatal special care unit. Parents of 57 singletons and 11 twins (68 infants) admitted to a neonatal special care unit (46% for prematurity) were recruited. Sixty-four mothers and 20 fathers were assessed at admission, and 60 mothers and 16 fathers at discharge. Participants reported their satisfaction with hospital information and completed the Perceived Stress Scale, the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale. Parents demonstrated similar stress trajectories, with stress on average declining over time. Higher maternal stress at admission was associated with a belief that the baby's illness would have a longer timeline, lower perceptions of treatment efficacy and lower satisfaction with the information received from medical staff. Younger age and lower levels of education predicted higher maternal stress at discharge. Fathers had higher stress at discharge when they were older, had a baby born at younger gestation and felt they had less control. At admission, information satisfaction was positively associated with parental beliefs about treatment efficacy and understanding the infant's condition. At discharge, information satisfaction was negatively associated with beliefs about illness severity and the likely time frame of the illness. The findings highlight that parents' perceptions of their baby's illness and treatment at admission and discharge have a significant association with stress. Clinical staff can use these factors to identify parents who are at risk of exhibiting a greater level of stress over the hospitalization period.

The Level and Sources of Stress in Mothers of Infants Admitted in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Background:Hospitalization of a new-born child is stressful for parents. This study was done to determine the level and sources of stress in mothers of infants admitted in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and variance in stress by infant and maternal characteristics.Materials and Methods:Parental Stressor Scale for NICU was used as the primary outcome measure. Maternal socio-demography, maternal and infant characteristics such as gravidity, number of prenatal visits, perceived support from family members, perceived level of discomfort that the baby underwent, pregnancy and delivery complications, gestational age, sex, birth weight, length of NICU stay and ventilator support, and neonatal morbidity were also collected from maternal and infant hospital records.Results:Amongst these rural and poorly educated mothers, the appearance of the baby, sights and sounds of NICU environment were major sources of stress. Higher maternal stress was found to be associated with poor family support during pregnancy, mothers’ perception of the baby's discomfort, lower birth weight of the baby, baby on ventilator, post-partum depression, and moderate to severe anxiety symptoms. Mothers who had higher levels of education and those with pregnancy complications were more stressed.Conclusions:Before designing remediation programs for parents, local demography and the predominant NICU stressors need to be kept in mind. Possibility of screening at-risk mothers by questioning them about perception of baby's discomfort needs to be evaluated further.

Parent stress in neonatal intensive care unit: an unattended aspect in medical care

Background: The birth of an infant that needs care in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) can be stressful for the parents. The parent-infant bonding process that occurs during the newborn period establishes the foundation for a lifelong relationship. This typical process does not occur when the infant spends the first several weeks or months in the NICU. Quantifying stress levels of parents and identifying the greatest environmental stressor by understanding the aspects of infants, parents and the environment that can cause stress may be useful in assisting the health personnel in understanding their importance and in improving the quality of care. The objective of the study was to quantify stress levels of parents of babies admitted in NICU and compare the sources of stress for mothers and fathers.Methods: This was a cross-sectional, observational, hospital based study where stress levels were assessed using Parental Stressor Scale: neonatal intensive care unit (PSS: NICU) questionnaire among parents of 400 newborn admitted in NICU. Stress was quantified using 5 point Likert scale from 1 (not at all stressful) to 5 (extremely stressful). The overall stress levels were calculated for each subscale and total scale and compared.Results: NICU environment is moderately stressful for both mother and father. The highest score was in the field of Relationship with the baby and parental role for mothers as well as for fathers. Mothers had significantly higher stress scores for each subscale and the total scale compared to fathers.Conclusions: NICU parents are under significant stress and this is need of time to give family centered care.

Parenting very preterm infants and stress in Neonatal Intensive Care Units

BackgroundAssessing parental stress during infants' hospitalization in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) is essential to identify parents at risk for immediate and extended physical and emotional burden. AimsTo identify sources of stress in mothers and fathers of very preterm infants hospitalized in NICU, and their association with sociodemographic, obstetric and infants' characteristics. Study designObservational and cross-sectional study conducted between July 2013 and June 2014. SubjectsParents of very preterm infants hospitalized in all level III NICU in the Northern Health Region of Portugal were consecutively and systematically invited to participate in this study, being included 120 mothers and 91 fathers (participation rate: 98.6%). Outcome measuresThe Portuguese version of the Parental Stressor Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit was used. ResultsThe overall experience of hospitalization was classified as more stressful than the median for the subscales. “Change in parental role” was classified as the most stressful subscale by mothers (Median (P25–P75): 4.1(3.2–4.7)) and fathers (Median (P25–P75): 3.2(2.4–4.0)). Mothers scored significantly higher in all subscales. For mothers, multiple pregnancy was associated with lower levels of stress regarding “change in parental role” (β=−0.597; 95% CI=−1.020 to −0.174) and “overall stress” (β=−0.603; 95% CI=−1.052 to −0.153). Being ≥30years old was found to be a significant predictor for decreased fathers' stress. ConclusionsThis study raises awareness for the need to develop sensitive instruments that take notice of gender, social support and family-centered care. The implementation of interventions focused on reducing parental stress is crucial to diminish disparities in family health.

Parenting very preterm infants and stress in Neonatal Intensive Care Units

Background Assessment of parental stress in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) may help to plan individualized interventions. This study aims to identify sources of stress in mothers and fathers of very preterm infants hospitalized in NICU, and their association with sociodemographic, obstetric and infant’s characteristics. Methods Parents of very preterm infants hospitalized in all level III NICU in the Northern Health Region of Portugal were consecutively …

Babies and Bosses

SUMMARY Mothers' increased entry to paid work has not been equally matched by fathers' extra unpaid work. Managing multiple and conflicting roles is a source of stress for mothers, which can impact negatively on their health and family relationships. Direct assistance provided by some governments (such as subsidised childcare and long paid parental leave) has been found effective in reducing gender inequalities in domestic labour and so also easing mothers' overwork and stress. The current policy context is a projected labour shortage for the coming half century, caused by low birthrates and an aging population. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Babies and Bosses series (2002-2005) makes recommendations to the governments of its member states on how to obtain still more increases in women's labour force participation without further falls in the birthrate. Will this be liberating for mothers or add to their burdens and stress? Much depends on the generosity or otherwise of government policies. The Babies and Bosses reports recommend that the least generous welfare states provide more assistance for working mothers. However, the reports also suggest cutbacks in the most generous states, even though these are the most successful in helping parents combine child-care and paid employment. The OECD is concerned to use more of women's labour power, but, is also committed to streamlining welfare states. Of concern to many feminists will be that these OECD reports appear to want women to “work more” but without generous government assistance, and also recommend further reductions in welfare benefits to lone mothers, as these are seen as reducing incentives to paid work.

Mothers' evolving relationships with doctors and nurses during the chronic childhood illness trajectory.

In this paper the evolution of mothers' relationships with doctors and nurses during the chronic childhood illness trajectory is explored and discussed and the implications for child health care are considered. The discussion reports one aspect of a qualitative study that sought to determine whether time of diagnosis influenced mothers' coping across the illness trajectory. The quality of relationships between mothers, who are usually the primary carers, and nursing and medical staff is central to the experience of coping with chronic childhood illness. Mothers need to develop expertise in a wide range of technical skills and knowledge of complex health care issues, while also coming to terms with the uncertainty of a condition with an unpredictable trajectory. Attempts to understand the significance of relationships between those living with chronic illness and staff have highlighted a number of factors that may influence the degree to which they are viewed as satisfactory. The way staff communicate with families has been identified as one of the mediating processes through which the quality of such is determined. Mothers of 15 children diagnosed presymptomatically and 14 children diagnosed postsymptomatically with the chronic illness Vesicoureteric Reflux (VUR) were interviewed to assess and compare coping strategies across the trajectory. Mothers' written consent was obtained and interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed and analysed using the 'Framework Technique'. The need to develop and sustain trusting relationships with staff was reported as a continual source of stress for mothers. The formation of satisfactory alliances, based on mutual respect and good communication early in the trajectory, in particular during the prediagnostic phase, was found to be instrumental in coping and competence development during the later chronic phase of the trajectory. Further research is needed to map prospectively the evolution of relationships between mothers and staff across the trajectory.

Sources of Stress in Mothers of Young Children with Visual Impairments

This study found that mothers of children with visual impairments aged 8–87 months experienced more stress than did mothers of children with no disability, particularly in areas involving the children's behavior and when the children had multiple disabilities. The major resource for the families was the availability of social support.

Sources of stress for mothers and fathers of deaf and hard of hearing infants.

Hearing mothers and fathers of 20 deaf or hard-of-hearing (D/HH) and 20 hearing 9-month-old infants completed the Parenting Stress Inventory (PSI) and a questionnaire tapping the Stress of Life Events (SLE). Their overall scores on the PSI were quite similar but subscale scores show that mothers were more likely than fathers to perceive their infants as 'distractible' and to report more negative spousal relationships. Mothers whose infants are D/HH report greater life stress compared to mothers of hearing infants, especially in relation to finances and to work. These results are discussed from the perspective of effective intervention.