Korean J Child Health Nurs.  2004 Jul;10(3):251-261.

Study on the Perceived Stress of Father of High-Risk Infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit(NICU)

• Sung MH
• Ahn RS
• Chang MS

Abstract

PURPOSE
To investigate the degree and sources of stress which fathers of infants in NICU experience. METHOD: Eighty-five fathers of NICU infants at 5 university hospitals in Seoul volunteered to complete the Parental Stressor Scale for NICU (PSS: NICU) from September 1, to October 15, 2002.
RESULTS
Total perceived stress was 3.50+/-0.76. The highest score were in Parental Role Alteration (3.76+/-0.83) and Appearance and Behavior (3.65+/-1.04). The total perceived stress score (PSS), correlated significantly with method (t=3.50, p=.01), and route (F=5.30, p=.00) of feeding. Light & Sound correlated significantly with birth weight (F=3.39, p=.02), medical diagnosis(F=2.30, p=.03), plan of operation(t=2.50, p=.01), operation (t=3.80, p=.02), method (F=4.90, p=.003), and route (F=4.70, p=.00) of feeding. Infant Appearance and Behavior correlated significantly with birth weight (F=5.12, p=.01), plan of operation (t=2.50, p=.01), method (F=3.50, p=.01), and route (F=7.80, p=.00) of feeding. Parental Role Alteration correlated significantly with care of incubator (t=-.68, p=.03), method of feeding (F=2.80, p=.04) and education level of father (F=3.00, p=.05).
CONCLUSION
Father with NICU infants were concerned mostly with parental role alteration and infant appearance. Nursing intervention should include fathers of NICU infants.

MeSH Terms

Birth Weight
Education
Fathers*
Hospitals, University
Humans
Incubators
Infant*
Infant, Newborn
Intensive Care, Neonatal*
Nursing
Parents
Seoul
Child Health