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. 2012 Feb;101(2):136-42.
doi: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2011.02440.x. Epub 2011 Sep 14.

Measuring maternal stress and perceived support in 25 Italian NICUs

Rosario Montirosso  1 , Livio Provenzi, Guido Calciolari, Renato Borgatti; NEO-ACQUA Study Group
Collaborators, Affiliations

Measuring maternal stress and perceived support in 25 Italian NICUs

Rosario Montirosso et al. Acta Paediatr. 2012 Feb.

Abstract

Aims: To determine the validity and reliability of the Parental Stressor Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (PSS: NICU) and the Nurse Parental Support Tool (NPST) for use with Italian parents; to investigate to which extent demographic variables and/or situational factors affect NICU-related maternal stress.

Methods: Mothers (N = 156) of very preterm (VPT) infants from 25 Italian NICUs completed a socio-demographic form, the PSS: NICU and the NPST at discharge. Psychometric properties of both tools were evaluated.

Results: High internal consistency and split-half reliability were found for both measures. The multi-dimensional structure of the PSS:NICU was confirmed. Alteration in parental role emerged as the greatest source of NICU-related stress. Length of stay in NICU and familiar socio-economic status explained partial variance in the PSS: NICU scores. NPST score mitigates the stress because of the infant's appearance and behaviour, but not that related to the parental role alteration.

Conclusions: PSS: NICU and NPST demonstrated adequate psychometric properties in a large sample of Italian mothers. The need for a psychologically informed support to NICU mothers is suggested.

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