Maternal self-efficacy mediates the association between spousal support and stress among mothers of NICU hospitalized preterm babies

Kestler–Peleg, Miri; Lavenda, Osnat; Stenger, Varda; Bendett, Haya; Alhalel-Lederman, Shanee; Maayan-Metzger, Ayala; Strauss, Tzipora

doi:10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2020.105077

Cited by 9 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…We found greater social support was associated with less reported general and parental stress, and significant others seem to be an especially important source of support as echoed by other research 33 34. Interestingly the association between social support and NICU-specific stress was not significant, consistent with other studies 35.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Sociodemographic risk factors, parental stress and social support in the neonatal intensive care unit

Younge

Jacobs

Tuchman

et al. 2022

Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed

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ObjectiveInvestigate relationships among neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) parent demographics, reported stress and social support.DesignCross-sectional observation.SettingTertiary referral NICU in Mid-Atlantic USA.PatientsParents (n=300) in the Giving Parents Support trial at enrolment.MeasuresPsychometric scales measured general stress, parental stress, NICU stress and social support. Demographic variables included education level, health insurance type, race, relationship status, age and gender. Length of stay was used to control for illness severity. Associations and potential modifying effects were evaluated using linear regression.ResultsHaving less than a college degree (b=−2.52, SE=0.91) and female parent gender (b=−3.42, SE=1.47) were associated with lower parental stress scores. Older age in years was associated with higher parental stress scores (b=0.21, SE=0.07) but lower NICU stress scores (b=−0.01, SE=0.01). Greater social support scores were associated with lower scores of general (b=−2.76, SE=0.39) and parental stress (b=−1.71, SE=0.47). Less than a college degree (b=−0.26, SE=0.11), Medicaid insurance (b=−0.43, SE=0.11) and black race (b=−0.56, SE=0.12) were associated with decreased social support scores. Level of social support modified the relationship between education and parental stress, with higher social support decreasing education-based differences in parental stress scores (p=0.049).ConclusionSociodemographic risk factors may not infer stress or risk in the anticipated direction. Practice and future research should focus on identifying and supporting NICU families at high risk for stress and low support.Trial registration numberNCT02643472.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Sociodemographic risk factors, parental stress and social support in the neonatal intensive care unit

Younge

Jacobs

Tuchman

et al. 2022

Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed

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“…The transition to parenthood encompasses happiness and excitement along with feelings of tension and distress. All the more, preterm birth involves the experience of even more powerful and intense stress compared with the common transition to parenthood (Davis et al., 2003; Kestler‐Peleg et al., 2020; Lau & Morse, 2003). It includes the sudden and traumatic ending of the pregnancy (O'Donovan & Nixon, 2019; Whittingham et al., 2014), the baby's fragile appearance (Spinelli et al., 2016), the necessity of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) hospitalization and the invasive medical care, along with the separation of parents from their babies (O'Donovan & Nixon, 2019), and the risk of morbidity or even the death of the preterm infant, all at the same time (Black et al., 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimism as a mediator of the association between social support and peripartum depression among mothers of neonatal intensive care unit hospitalized preterm infants

Kestler–Peleg

Lavenda

2021

Stress and Health

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The birth of a preterm infant and the hospitalization in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) add extra functional and emotional demands to the typical transition to motherhood. Therefore, the prevalence of peripartum depression (PPD) among preterm mothers is especially high. As optimism was found to be a mediator of the association between social support and depression, the current study aimed to test this mediation in the population of NICU mothers. A sample of 128 Israeli mothers of 214 NICU hospitalized infants filled out self-report questionnaires regarding background variables, social support, optimism, and PPD symptoms. As hypothesized, optimism was found to partially mediate the association between social support and PPD symptoms among mother of preterm infants. The higher the perceived social support reported, the higher maternal optimism reported, and in turn, the lower PPD symptoms reported. In accordance with the Transactional Stress Theory, social support and optimism reflect maternal secondary appraisals that impact the way mothers of preterm infants cope with the challenging situation of a preterm birth and NICU hospitalization. Healthcare professionals should encourage preterm mothers' use of social support to increase optimism and reduce the risk of developing PPD.

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“…Preterm birth is a stressful event [ 1 ] that is associated with increased maternal psychological distress [ 2 ] and decreased maternal wellbeing [ 3 ]. In most cases, it is unexpected and often occurs in an emergency atmosphere [ 2 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is a general term that embraces various types of assistance, including emotional, instrumental, informational, etc., which are gained from relationships with significant others [ 25 ]. The importance of support systems as coping resources for dealing with stressful life events is well documented [ 26 , 27 ], particularly in the context of the NICU [ 3 ]. Based on the salutogenic model for health [ 20 ], our main assumption is that social support is a crucial resistance resource when mothers are dealing with the great uncertainty of a preterm birth and subsequent infant NICU hospitalization.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fath5rs of preterm infants, who are expected to provide support to the mothers, also experience shock and stress following an unpredictable preterm birth and the challenging conditions of NICU hospitalization [ 33 ]. Indeed, spousal support was found to be a predictor of reduced levels of mothers’ stress during NICU hospitalization [ 3 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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“I’ll Be There”: Informal and Formal Support Systems and Mothers’ Psychological Distress during NICU Hospitalization

et al. 2022

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Mothers of infants hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) are at a high risk for psychological distress, which is of concern to health and social professionals due to the negative implications for mothers and infants. A model for explaining maternal psychological distress, consisting of intolerance to uncertainty and support from informal (spouse, family, and friends) and formal (medical staff) systems was examined. Data was collected from one of the largest NICUs in Israel; 129 mothers of 215 preterm infants completed self-report questionnaires regarding their background variables, intolerance to uncertainty, perceived informal support and perceived medical staff support. The NICU’s medical staff provided indicators for the infants of participating mothers. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted. The examined model explained 29.2% of the variance in maternal psychological distress. Intolerance of uncertainty positively predicted psychological distress. Informal support, and in particular, spousal support negatively predicted psychological distress above and beyond intolerance of uncertainty. Medical staff support negatively predicted psychological distress above and beyond intolerance to uncertainty and informal support. Our findings suggest that maternal psychological distress is reduced through a family-centered care approach in NICUs. Medical professionals and social services should develop further solutions for addressing preterm mothers’ need for certainty and support.

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Maternal self-efficacy mediates the association between spousal support and stress among mothers of NICU hospitalized preterm babies

Cited by 9 publications

References 13 publications

Sociodemographic risk factors, parental stress and social support in the neonatal intensive care unit

Sociodemographic risk factors, parental stress and social support in the neonatal intensive care unit

Optimism as a mediator of the association between social support and peripartum depression among mothers of neonatal intensive care unit hospitalized preterm infants

“I’ll Be There”: Informal and Formal Support Systems and Mothers’ Psychological Distress during NICU Hospitalization

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