Resiliency factors relevant to NICU parents' emotional and relational health.

OBJECTIVES

Despite the stress of having a baby in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), factors that promote adjustment remain unclear. We examined which resiliency factors were associated with family adjustment across the NICU journey.

STUDY

DESIGN

Parents with a baby in the NICU (≤2 weeks) completed surveys at three timepoints (during admission (N = 165); 1 month later (N = 85); 3 months later (N = 55)). Surveys included sociodemographics and validated measures of emotional distress, relational outcomes, and resiliency.

RESULTS

Mixed models revealed that lower parental distress was associated with: (1) higher mindfulness; (2) more adaptive coping; (3) greater parental self-efficacy (only anxiety); and (4) increased parental time for themselves (only posttraumatic stress). Higher couple satisfaction was associated with more dyadic coping and social support. Stronger parent-child bonding was associated with greater parental self-efficacy.

CONCLUSION

Mindfulness and coping are important for parental distress. Building parental efficacy, encouraging self-care, and promoting shared coping and social support is important.