Date Presented 04/19/21
This study surveyed 137 mothers to determine the predictors of resilience, maternal attachment, and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) satisfaction postdischarge. Statistically significant predictors for NICU satisfaction were social support and maternal attachment; for resilience, maternal attachment and social support; and for maternal attachment, resilience, NICU satisfaction, and social support. It is important for OTs to understand these relationships to better support this population.
Primary Author and Speaker: Yan-hua Huang
Contributing Authors: Lisa Connor, Marjorie Nicholas
PURPOSE: Many families live with the long-lasting effects of their infant’s stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and each family’s NICU experience is unique. This study aims to determine the predictors of resilience, maternal attachment, and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) satisfaction post-discharge.
DESIGN: A quantitative survey research design was used and data was collected via online survey questionnaires from mothers of infants who stayed in the NICU for at least five days and were discharged within the past five years.
METHODS: This study utilized three standardized surveys: The Neonatal Satisfaction Survey (NSS 8), The Maternal Postnatal Attachment Scale (MPAS), and The Protective Factors for Resilience Scale (PFRS).
RESULTS: The study surveyed 137 participants. Data analysis showed a moderate correlation between maternal attachment and NICU satisfaction rate (r = .38, p < .001), a significant moderate correlation between resilience and NICU satisfaction rate (r = .41, p < .001) and a significant moderate correlation between resilience and maternal attachment (r = .52, p < .001). Additionally, the data indicated that significant predictors for NICU satisfaction rate were social support and maternal attachment. Significant predictors for resilience were maternal attachment and social support. Significant predictors for maternal attachment were resilience, NICU satisfaction rate, and social support.
CONCLUSION: It is important for occupational therapists and other healthcare practitioners within the NICU to understand these potential relationships in order to better support this population and their needs. Practitioners can support mothers by facilitating their ability to access social support during their infant’s stay in the NICU, as this is likely to improve NICU satisfaction. Additionally, NICU practitioners can facilitate bonding opportunities for the infant and mother to increase resilience.
References
Ghadery-Sefat, A., Abdeyazdan, Z., Badiee, Z., & Zargham-Boroujeni, A. (2016). Relationship between parent–infant attachment and parental satisfaction with supportive nursing care. Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research, 21(1), 71. Gale Academic OneFile.
Hill, R., & Flanagan, J. (2020). The Maternal–Infant Bond: Clarifying the Concept. International Journal of Nursing Knowledge, 31(1), 14–18.
Hynan, M. T., Steinberg, Z., Baker, L., Cicco, R., Geller, P. A., Lassen, S., Milford, C., Mounts, K. O., Patterson, C., Saxton, S., Segre, L., & Stuebe, A. (2015). Recommendations for mental health professionals in the NICU. Journal of Perinatology, 35(1), S14–S18. https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2015.144
Okito, O. A., Soghier, L., Fratantoni, K., Streisand, R., Tully, C., Herrera, N., Soghier, L., Fratantoni, K., Streisand, R., Tully, C., & Herrera, N. (2019). Parental Resilience and Psychological Distress in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (PARENT Study). Pediatrics, 144(2 MeetingAbstract), 703–703. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.144.2_MeetingAbstract.703
