Parenting very preterm infants and stress in Neonatal Intensive Care Units

• Age is a significant predictor for decreased fathers' stress levels in NICU.
• Mothers' perception of stress was inversely associated with multiple pregnancy.
• Despite gender differences, “change in parental role” was the highest source of stress for mothers and fathers.
• The stress scores identified were higher than those previously described.

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 ≥ 30 years 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.