We evaluated psychiatric symptoms, posttraumatic growth, and life satisfaction among the parents (n = 34) of newborns (n = 17) requiring therapeutic hypothermia or urgent surgery (interest group). Our control group included 60 parents of healthy newborns (n = 30). The first surveys were completed soon after diagnosis or delivery and the follow-up surveys 1 year later (participation rate 88% in the interest group and 70% in the control group). General stress was common in both groups but was more prevalent in the interest group as were depressive symptoms, too. Anxiety was more common in the interest group, although it showed a decrease from the baseline in both groups. Life satisfaction had an inverse correlation with all measures of psychiatric symptoms, and it was lower in the interest group in the early stage, but similar at 12 months due to the slight decline in the control group. Mothers in the interest group had more anxiety and depressive symptoms than fathers in the early stage. Mothers had more traumatic distress than fathers at both time points. Half of the parents experienced substantial posttraumatic growth at 12 months. In conclusion, the serious illness of an infant substantially affects the well-being of the parents in the early stages of illness and one year after the illness.
The perinatal period is a sensitive time for the entire family. A newborn changes the dynamics in the family and requires continuous attention. Some relationships lack sufficient resources, which can lead to tension and conflicts between the parents. However, resilient relationships can even strengthen in the face of challenges, which can have a positive effect on life satisfaction (Isokääntä et al., 2019).Parental life satisfaction varies depending on the time after birth.In general, both new parents are satisfied with life around the time of delivery, but life satisfaction often slightly decreases over the following months as the burdens of parenthood increase (Aasheim et al., 2014). Nonetheless, pregnancy and delivery include multiple biological, social and psychological changes that can substantially impact on the parental relationship.
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