Table 4.
Characteristics of anxiety included studies
| Study ID, country | Study design, setting, study period, type of neonatal care, length of stay | Study objective | Study inclusion criteria | Study exclusion criteria | Parents’ characteristics | Babies’ characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blanc 2021 [56], France | Prospective national population-based cohort, 268 neonatology departments, March-December 2011, length of stay = median 29 (Q1, 16 – Q3, 60) days, NICU level = NR | To evaluate if caesarean delivery < 26 wks GA is associated with depression and anxiety in mothers compared with 26 and 34 wks deliveries | Mothers to live preterm infants 22–34 weeks who enrolled in the EPIPAGE-2 study | Mothers who had multiple births (twins or more) among whom at least one infant died |
N = 2270 mothers Age = 29.9 ± 5.4 yrs, Parity—nullips = 1247 (56%) LWP = 2001 (92%) SES—employed = 1479 (70.5%) Ethnicity, education = NR |
N = 2270 ( 1830 singleton and 440 multiple), GA = 22–34 wks, BW = 1,761.4g ± 527g |
| Bonacquisti 2020 [57], USA | Prospective cohort, 3 centres, October 2014-May 2016, NICU level & length of stay = NR | To identify maternal psychological responses to infants’ (NICU) admission, the relationship between psychological symptoms and maternal-infant attachment, evaluate change in psychological symptoms over time | Mothers > 18 years old, of NICU infants within one week to one year postpartum | Fathers excluded |
N = 127 mothers Age = mean 29.68 yrs Parity—nullips = 102 (80%) LWP = 69 (54.3%) SES—employed = 87 (69%) Education—university and above = 47 (37%) Ethnicity = White 66 (52.0%), other 61 (48%) |
N, GA, BW = NR |
| Buchi 2007 [58], Switzerland | Cross sectional, 1 centre, January 1998-December 2002, NICU level & length of stay = NR | To assess grief and post-traumatic growth in parents 2–6 years after the death of extremely preterm, to evaluate bereavement | Parents to deceased babies born at 24–26 weeks’ gestation during the study period | Insufficient command of German to complete questionnaire |
N = 54 parents (27 mothers + 27 fathers) Age—mothers = 34.7 ± 5.1 yrs Age—fathers = 38.9 ± 8.6 yers Parity—nullips = 11 (20%) LWP = all Education—university degree = parents 7 (13%) SES & ethnicity = NR |
N = 40 (12 twins, 3 triplets), BW = NR, GA = 25.2 ± 0.9 wks |
| Cajiao-Nieto 2021 [59], Spain | Prospective cohort, 1 centre, January 2016-April 2017, length of stay = mean 31.2 days, NICU level = NR | To compare anxiety and depression symptoms between fathers of babies admitted to NICU and fathers of healthy full-term infants (not admitted to NICU) | Fathers of babies in NICU ≥ weeks, able to speak and write in Spanish | Death of the newborn or one of the infants in multiple births, being transferred to another hospital |
N = 51 fathers Age—30–40 yrs = 36 (60.8%) Age > 40 yrs = 15 (29.4%) Parity—first-time fathers = 36 (70.2%) LWP = 32 (62.7%) > 10 yrs SES—employed = 49 (96.1%) Education—professional and above = 39 (76.5%) Ethnicity = NR |
N = 69, GA—32 to 36 wks = 44 (63.8%), BW - 1000 -2000 g = 44 (63.9%) |
| Cakmak 2018 [60], Turkey | Cross sectional, 2 centres, July 2013-June 2015, level 1 and 2 NICU, length of stay = mean 8.43 ± SD 11.27 days, range = 1–85 days | To examine the correlation between mothers’ participation in NICU infant care, their anxiety and problem-solving skill levels in caregiving | Mother of infants 0–2 months in the NICU, > elementary school graduates, babies > 24 h in NICU, Speak Turkish, able to participate in baby care | Babies having contagious infection prevents mother from entering the NICU, mothers with physical disability/ psychiatric condition |
N = 340 mothers Age = 27.7 ± 5.6 yrs Parity—nullips = 128 (37.6%) LWP—living in a nuclear family 286 (84.1%) SES—income < expenditure = 112 (32.9%) Education—university 55 (16.2%) Ethnicity = NR |
N = 340, GA - 25–36 weeks = 140 (41.2%), 37 to 42 weeks = 200 (58.8%), BW = mean 2,700.29 ± SD 861.06 g |
| Carvalho 2008 [61], Brazil | Prospective cohort, 1 centre, 2001–2003, NICU level III, length of stay = mean 31 ± SD 24.67 days | To assess/compare anxiety and depression symptoms in mothers of preterm during NICU and afterwards and child’s development at 12 months of CCA | Mothers of NICU babies < 37 wks GA and BW ≤ 1,500 g | Psychiatric history, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), maternal hospitalisation in intensive care |
N = 36 mothers Age = mean 24.56 ± SD 6.81 yrs Parity – nullips = 21 (58%) LWP = 27 (75%) Education—high school = 10 (28%) SES & ethnicity = NR |
N = 36, GA = mean 30.44 ± SD 2.26 wks, BW = mean 1,058 ± SD 241.98 g |
| Dantas 2012 [62], Brazil | Cross-sectional, 2 centres, April–May 2011, length of stay = mean 5 ± SD 6 days, NICU level = NR | To identify the prevalence of symptoms of anxiety and depression in mothers of hospitalized premature infants | Mothers of preterm infants < 37 wks, admitted to NICU > 24 h, age ≥ 18 yrs | Mothers to newborns who died, or with congenital anomaly, drug user, HIV + and mental health illness |
N = 70 mothers Age = mean 26.50, range 18 – 42 yrs LWP = 55 (78.6%) SES—1 salary = 17 (24.3%) SES – occupation = 33 (47.1%) Education, parity, ethnicity = NR |
N = NR, GA = mean 31.55 wks, range 26 to 37 wks, BW = mean 1,494 g |
| Damanabad 2019 [63], Iran | Cross sectional, 1 centre, January 2016—May 2016, NICU, length of stay = NR | To assess anxiety of mothers to NICU babies and the characteristics associated with anxiety | Mothers to NICU preterm babies 30–36 wks | For mothers severe obstetric complications and transferred to another hospital For babies congenital abnormality, baby died in the first 24 h |
N = 100 mothers Age = mean 29.98 yrs Parity—nullips = 49 (49%) Education—university = 17 (17%) LWP, SES & ethnicity = NR |
N = 100, GA ≤ 30 wks = 33 (33%) GA 31–34 wks = 30 (30%) GA > 34 wks = 37 (37%) BW = mean 1,851.67 ± SD 573.42 g |
| Das 2021 [64], USA | Prospective cohort, 1 centre, length of stay = range 14–69 days, study period & NICU level = NR | To determine if history of depression would increase risk of both postpartum depression and other stress-related disorders among NICU mothers | Mothers of newborns in NICU 7–29 days | Not giving informed consent |
N = 96 mothers, 36 with mental health history, 60 no mental health Age = range 22–33 yrs SES—government insurance = 86 90% Ethnicity = white 36 (38%) Parity, education & LWP = NR |
N = 99, GA = range 29–39 wks, BW = range 1,285–3112 g |
| Dickinson 2022 [75], Australia | Prospective cohort, 1 centre, January 2016—November 2016, NICU level 6 tertiary care, length of stay = NR | To estimate prevalence of psychological symptoms among mothers and fathers of babies admitted to NICU within 2 weeks after birth | Parents of preterm infants ≤ 37 weeks' gestational age | Not speaking English, aged < 18 years, infant unlikely to survive/ died within the 1st wk/admitted to NICU within 72 h after birth |
N = 114 mothers & fathers, N mothers = 69, N = 45 fathers Age—combined = mean 30.58 ± 8.9 yrs Parity—combined = first child = 47 (41.2%) LWP – combined = 97 (87.4%) Education- combined > 12 yrs = 61 (53.5%) SES—combined income < $50 000 = 33 (28.9%), rural residents (combined) = 41 (36.0%) Ethnicity—combined) = indigenous = 21 (18.4%), white = 81 (71.1%), others = 12 (10.5%) |
N = 79, GA mean = 30.12 ± SD 3.687 wks, BW = mean 1,521.82 ± SD 712.9 g |
| Feeley 2007 [65], Canada | Prospective cohort, 2 centres, length of stay = range 26–129 days, period & NICU level = NR | To compare mothers and fathers psychosocial adjustment and interaction with their infants at 3 and 9 months | Biological parents of babies BW < 1500 g and GA < 37 weeks, married or cohabiting, able to read English/French | Parents to babies with congenital anomaly or neurological disability |
N = 61 couples Age—mothers = mean 33.0 ± SD 5.3 yrs Age—fathers = mean 34.5 ± SD 5 yrs Parity—first time parents = 38 (62%) LWP = all Educations—mothers = mean 14.1 ± SD 3,1 yrs Education—fathers = mean 14.3 ± SD 2.8 yrs Ethnicity & SES = NR |
N = 61, GA < 37 wks, BW < 1500 g |
| Fontoura 2018 [66], Brazil | Cross-sectional, 3 centres, May 2014-April 2015, neonatal units, length of stay = NR | To compare the anxiety level of mothers of newborns with congenital anomalies who were diagnosed anenatally and postnatally | Mothers who were physically and mentally able to participate | Mothers with psychiatric conditions, HIV + impaired hearing, antenatal complications, using psychotropic medications, discharged before the diagnosis of congenital malformation at birth |
N = 115 mothers Age 19–29 yrs = 58 (50%) Parity—nullips = 47 (41%) LWP = 68 (59%) Education - 6 to 10 years = 60 (52%) Ethnicity—declared to be browns = 107 (93%) SES = NR |
N = 117, BW & GA = NR |
| Garfield 2015a, [27] USA | Cross-sectional, 2 centres, length of stays = mean 93.1 ± SD 48.49, range 31–211 days, period & NICU level = NR | To identify risk factors among urban, low-income mothers, for screening and referral | Mothers of VLBW < 1500 g and preterm < 37 wks, English speaking, no current mental health diagnosis, infants clinically stable, no congenital neurological problems or symptoms of substance abuse | Mothers < 18 yrs old, ongoing critical illness (HIV, seizure), major depression, psychosis, bipolar disease, mothers to infants receiving mechanical ventilation |
N = 113 mothers Age = mean 24.7 ± SD 5.17 yrs LWP = 59 (52.3%) SES—received public aid = 44 (39%), uninsured = 45 (40%) Education—high school graduates = 49 (43%) Ethnicity = African American 92 (81%) Parity = NR |
N = NR, GA < 37 wks, BW = mean 1,073 ± SD 342 g |
| Gennaro 1988 [67], USA | Prospective cohort, 1 centre, over 7 months, NICU, level & length of stay = NR | To compare anxiety and depression between preterm and term mothers at 1 and 6 weeks | Mothers to preterm < 37 wks and BW 1000–2500 g | No anomaly babies |
N = 41 mothers Age = mean 23 ± SD 5.2 yrs SES—low-middle class = all Parity, LWP, ethnicity, & education = NR |
N = NR, GA < 37 wks, BW = mean 1,618 g |
| Greene 2015 & 2019a, [28, 29] USA | Prospective cohort, 1 urban centre, 2011–2012, NICU level IV, length of stay = mean 91 ± SD 37 days | To analyse change of depression, anxiety and perinatal-specific PTS across very low birth infants’ first year of life, to identify predictors of changes over time | English-speaking mothers > 18 years, babies likely to survive and VLBW < 1500g | NR |
N = 69 mothers at about 1 month post birth, N = 64 at about 2 wks before discharge Age = mean 27 ± SD 6 yrs Parity – nullips = 23 (34%) LWP = 32 (51%) Education—highest grade = mean 13.4 ± SD 2.4 yrs Ethnicity = Black 38 (54%), Non-Hispanic white 18 (26%), Hispanic 12 (17%), Asian 1 SES = NR |
N = 69, GA = mean 27.5 ± SD 2 wks, range = 23.2 to 32.3 wks, BW = mean 957 ± SD 243 g |
| Holditch-Davis 2009a, [31] USA | Prospective cohort, 2 centres, NICU level, study period = NR | To examine inter-relationships among stress due to infant appearance and behaviour in the NICU exhibited by African American mothers of preterm infants | African American biological mothers of preterm infants < 1500 g at birth or requiring mechanical ventilation. Mothers were recruited when their infants were no longer critically ill | Infants with congenital, symptomatic from substance exposure, hospitalized > 2 months post-term, or triplets or part of a higher order multiples set; mothers with no custody, follow-up for 2 years unlikely, HIV + , < 15 yrs, critically ill, not speak English, mental health problems |
N = 177 mothers Age = mean 25.9 ± SD 6.5 LWP = 70 (6.1%) Education = mean 12.6 SD ± 1.8 yrs SES—public assistance = 61 (52.8%) Ethnicity = all African American Parity = NR |
N = NR, GA = mean 28.3 ± SD 2.9 wks, BW = mean 1,107 ± SD 394 g |
| Khemakhem 2020 [73], Tunisia | Cross-sectional, 1 centre, March–May 2017, length of stay = median 6 days, interquartile range (IQR) = 3–16 days | To examine the interactions between mothers and premature babies in NCU and assess mothers’ psychological state | Mothers to babies born prematurely and admitted to NICU | NR |
N = 10 Age = median 31, (IQR) 25 and 37 yrs, Parity—nullips = 2 LWP = All Education—university = 4 Ethnicity = all Arabs SES = NR |
N = 11, BW = median 1,750, IQR 1,480–2,100 g, GA 28–37 wks |
| Kong 2013 [74], China | Cross sectional, 1 centre, January–September 2011, neonatal care paediatric department, length of stay > 24 h | To investigate parents’ mental health of hospitalised neonates and their characteristics, to measure the stress levels and social support | Parental age ≥ 18 years, ability to read and write, neonates stayed in hospital > 24 h | Serious physical or mental health condition |
N = 600 mothers & fathers, mothers N = 200, fathers N = 400 Age – mothers = mean 28.53 ± SD 4.06 yrs Age – fathers = mean 30.76 ± SD 4.60 yrs LWP – average yrs- mothers = mean 3.17 ± SD 2.78 LWP – average yrs- fathers = mean 3.30 ± SD 3.13 yrs Education – college or higher—mothers = 128 (64%) Education – college or higher—fathers = 292 (73.25%) SES < 5000 Yuan/month – mothers = (168) 84% SES < 5000 Yuan/month – mothers—fathers = 268 (67.25%) Ethnicity & parity = NR |
N = 600, GA—mothers = mean 36.63 ± SD 3.34, GA – fathers = mean 37.09 ± SD 3.16 wks, BW—mothers = mean 2,926.70 ± SD 937.8 g BW- fathers = mean 3,051.90 ± SD 1028.9 g |
| Lotterman 2018a, [45] USA | Prospective cohort, 1 centre, NICU level III & IV, period & length of stay = NR | To investigate whether rates of psychopathology are elevated in mothers of moderate- to late preterm infants during/following infant hospitalization in the NICU, and associated protective and risk factors | Mothers of moderate- to late-preterm infants 32 to < 37 weeks | Mothers to babies born < 32 weeks or later than 36 weeks, or if they had been in the NICU > 6 months |
N = 91 mothers at NICU admission, N = 76 at 6 months Age = mean 32.45 SD ± 6.78 yrs Ethnicity = Caucasian 37 (40.7%), African American 15 (17.4%) Asian 9 (10.5%), American Indian/Alaskan Native 2 (2.3%), 27 (29.1%) other Education—mean years = 14.29 ± SD 4.30 Parity, LWP & SES = NR |
N = 91, GA = range 32–37 wks, GA = mean 33.53 ± SD, 1.33 wks, BW = NR |
| Misund 2013, 2014a, [36, 37] Norway | Prospective cohort, 1 centre at Oslo University Hospital, Norway, two periods: June 2005–January 2006 and October 2007–July 2008, NICU level & length of stay = NR | To explore the associations between maternal mental health problems & preterm birth & identify predictors of early mother–infant interaction | Mothers of preterm babies GA < 33 wks admitted to NICU | Mothers of severely ill babies that the medical staff estimated to have poor chance of survival, and non-Norwegian speakers were not included |
N = 29 mothers at 2 wks post birth, N = 27 at 2 wks after NICU admission, N = 26 at 6 & 18 months post term, Age = mean age 33.7yrs ± SD 4.3 yrs Parity—nullips = 18 (62.1%) LWP = all SES – unemployed = 4 (13.8%) Education > 12 years = 26 (89.7%) Ethnicity = NR |
N = 35, GA = median 29 range 24–32 wks mean 28.5 ± SD 2.6 wks, BW = range 623 to 2,030g, mean 1,222 ± SD 423 g |
| Moreyra 2021a, [47] USA | Cross-sectional, October 2017—July 2019, length of stay at least 14 days, number of centres, period & NICU level = NR | To describe the impact of depression, anxiety, and trauma screening protocol and the referral pf positively screened NICU parents | Parents of NICU babies admitted at least for 2 weeks | None excluded |
N = 120 mothers and N = 30 fathers Age = 31.06 ± 6.26 yrs Parity – para = mean 1.95 ± SD 1.2 LWP = 91 (61%) Ethnicity = white 39 26%, Other = 111 (74%) Education & SES = NR |
N = NR, GA = 32.3 ± 4.8 weeks, GA = 1935.2 ± 1052.1 g |
| Mulder 2014 [68], New Zeeland | Cohort, 1 centre, February 2001-January 2002, NICU level & length of stay = NR | To evaluate the psychological functioning in parents whose infants were admitted to a NICU over the first 2 years of the infant’s life | NICU admissions born to parents resident in a defined geographic area in a 12-month period were eligible for the study. Criteria for NICU admission were birth weight < 1800 g and < 34 weeks or any illness in the infant | No written informed consent |
N = 242 mothers, N = 205 fathers Age—mothers = mean 30.1 ± SD 5.4 yrs Age- fathers = mean 33.1 ± SD 5.9 yrs LWP – mothers = 213 (88%) Education—professional qualification- mothers = 65 (52%) Education – professional—fathers = 50 (37%) SES—income < $70,000—mothers = 217 (89%) Parity & ethnicity = NR |
N = 242, GA = range 23–42 wks, GA = mean 35.1 ± SD 3.8 wks, BW = mean 2477 ± SD 889.1 g |
| Okito 2022 [76], USA | Cohort, 1 centre, December 2017-October 2019, NICU level IV, length of stay = NR | To evaluate associations between parental resilience and psychological distress during NICU admission | Parents of infants ≤ 34 weeks GA and < 14 days of chronological age babies in level IV NICU |
Not speaking English, not having custody, < 18 years |
N = 45 mothers & fathers, mothers N = 39 (87%) Age—mothers & fathers = median 31, IQR 23–34 yrs LWP—mothers & fathers = 22 (49%) Education—Some college or more-mothers & fathers = 29 (64%) Ethnicity—mothers & fathers = Non-Hispanic White = 20 (44%) SES – employed—mothers & fathers = 25 (56%), Low concentrated disadvantage CDI < 0 22 (49%) Parity = NR |
N = 45, GA = median 30, IQR 27.3–33 wks, BW = NR |
| Park 2022 [68], Korea | Cross-sectional, 1 centre, March 2018—August 2019, NICU level & length of stay = NR | To identify physical and emotional health status of preterm mothers, correlation between physical and emotional health, and differences according to characteristics of mothers and babies | Mothers ≥ 19 years who gave birth < 37 gestational weeks to infants admitted to the NICU, and who could understand and complete the study questionnaire | Congenital anomaly, required treatment (e.g. for continuous renal replacement therapy or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) |
N = 91 mothers Age = mean 35.3 ± SD 3.5 yrs Parity – nullips = 68 (74.7%) SES – employed = 54 (59.3%) Education ≥ university degree = 83 (91.2%) Ethnicity = South Korean, LWP = NR |
N = 91, GA = range 23–36) wks, GA = mean 31.8 ± SD 2.8 wks, BW = mean 1,489.5 ± SD 543.3 g |
| Pisoni 2020a, [49] Italy | Prospective cohort, 1 centre, August 2013- April 2014, length of stay = mean 29, range 13–138 days, NICU level = NR | To examine the relationships between maternal psychological distress, parental protective factors, perinatal risk factors and neurodevelopmental outcomes | Preterm infants gestational age < 34 weeks and their mothers aged > 18 years old with an adequate grasp of Italian and ability to understand purpose of study | Congenital anomalies and infections, maternal psychiatric illness and/or drug abuse |
N = 29 mothers Age = mean 32.8 ± SD 6.7 yrs Parity – nullips = 19 (65.5%) SES—employed = 25 (86.2%) Education = mean 14.3 ± SD 2.8 yrs Ethnicity & LWP = NR |
N = 29, GA = mean 30.2 ± SD 3.2 wks, range 23–33 wks, BW = mean 1528.9 ± SD 541.2, range 574–2327 g |
| Rogers 2013 [69], USA | Prospective cohort, 1 centre, 3 year-period, level III NICU, length of stay = mean 90.5 ± SD 28.6 days | To identify factors for mothers at-risk for postpartum depression or anxiety at the time of NICU discharge among Caucasian and African-Americans | Mothers to preterm infants born < 30 weeks | Mothers to babies with congenital anomaly or being moribund with severe sepsis or respiratory failure in the first days of life |
N = 73 mothers Age = mean 27.2 ± SD 7.4 yrs Parity—nullips = 25 (34.3%) LWP = 31 (42.5%) SES—public insurance = 50 (69.0%) Education—college or higher = 39 (53.5%) Ethnicity = Caucasian 36 (49%), African 37 (51%) |
N = 73, GA = mean 25.5 ± SD 1.8 wks, BW = NR |
| Serge 2014 [70], USA | Cross-sectional, 1 centre, December 2010-May 2012, NICU level IV, length of stay = NR | To identify risk factors of aversive emotional states in NICU mothers and the significant risk factors based on conceptual model | Mothers of NICU infants, ≥ 18 years of age, English speaking | Cases with missing data excluded from analysis |
N = 200 mothers Age = mean 28 yrs, range 18—45 LWP = 123 (61.8%) SES—employed = 132 (66.3%) Education = 14.6 (2.5) yrs Ethnicity = White 178 (90%) Parity = NR |
N = 199, GA, = 23—41 wks, BW = range 397–4,706 g |
| Shivhare 2022 [77], India | Case–control, 1 centre, January-December 2018, length of stay = 7 to > 30 days, NICU level = NR | To compare psychological outcomes of mothers to term and preterm babies admitted to NICU | Mothers of term and preterm babies admitted to NICU | Mothers with serious physical conditions that might have an impact on psychological well-being |
N = 100 mothers Age = mean 26.14 ± SD 4.49 yrs LWP = NR SES—rural = 50 (50%) semi urban = 34 (34%) urban 16 (16%) Education—college = 18 (18%), parity = NR |
N = 100, GA = 76% < 37 wks, 24% ≥ 37 GA = mean 35.39 ± SD 1.53 wks BW = 14% 2.5 kg, 69% > 1.5–2.4kg, 17% < 1.5 kg |
| Treyvaud 2016 [71], Australia | Prospective cohort, 1 centre, 2001 and 2003, NICU level & length of stay = NR | To assess multiple births and bereavement impact on mental health, parenting stress and family functioning | Families from the Victorian Infant Brain Studies (VIBeS) cohort to infants born at < 30 wks' gestation or with a birthweight < 1250 g | Not completing the questionnaire fully |
N = 162 mothers (singleton 129 and multiples 33) Age—singleton and multiples = mean 30 ± SD 6 yrs Parity—singleton nullips—= 85 (66%) Parity—multiples nullips = 24 (75%) LWP—singleton = 110 (85%) LWP—multiples = 32 (97%) SES—professional jobs singleton = 44 (34%) SES – professional jobs multiples = 4 (13%) Education—tertiary singleton = 18 (14%) Education – tertiary multiples = 1 (1%) Ethnicity = NR |
N = 194 (129 singletons, 65 multiples), GA < 30 wks, BW < 1250 g |
| Vizcarrondo-Oppenheimer 2021 [78], USA | Cross-sectional, 1 centre, 2015–2018, NICU level & length of stay = NR | To examine the link between multiple risk factors of anxiety and depression in mothers of NICU babies | Mothers to infants admitted to NICU since birth | NR |
N = 92 mothers Age = mean 27.64 ± SD 7.11 yrs SES—major professional = 8 (8.7%), minor professional 16 (17.4%), skilled worker 22 (23.9%), semiskilled worker 24 (26.1%), unskilled worker = 20 (21.7%) Parity, LWP, education & ethnicity = NR |
N = NR, GA = mean 30.75 ± SD 5.16 wks, BW = mean 1,540.3 ± SD 864.92 g |
| Zanardo 1998 [72], Italy |
Case–control, 1 centre, NICU level III, length of stay = mean 40 ± SD 32 days, period = NR |
To identify predictors of pre-discharge parental anxiety in parents of preterm twins | Parents of high-risk premature twins (mean birth weight 1.493 ± 227 kg; mean gestational age 33 ± 3.5 weeks), admitted to level III NICU | NR |
N = 55 parents, N = 30 mothers, N = 25 fathers Age -twins mothers = mean 33 ± SD 5.8 yrs Age—twins fathers = mean 33 ± SD 4.2 yrs Age—singleton mothers = mean 32 ± SD 4.9 Age—singleton fathers = mean 36 ± SD 5.6 years Education—twins = doctorate = none Education—twins = doctorate fathers = 1 Education—singleton doctorate mothers = 1 Education—singleton doctorate fathers = 2 Parity, LWP, SES, ethnicity = NR |
N = 45 (15 twins, 15 singleton), GA twins = mean 33 ± SD 3.5 wks GA singletons = mean 33 ± SD 3.5 wks BW twins = mean 1.493 ± SD 227g BW singleton = 1.878 ± 1.151 g |
Abbreviations: BW birth weight, CCA Chronological Corrected Age, CDI Concentrated Disadvantage Index, GA Gestational age, LWP Living with partner, N number of participants, Nullips Nulliparous, NR Not reported, PRI Perinatal Risk Inventory, SES Socioeconomic status, Tertiary secondary school, < secondary school), Wks weeks, yrs years
aStudies included in both anxiety and post-traumatic stress (PTS): Garfield 2015 [27], Greene 2015 & 2019 [28, 29], Holditch-Davis 2009 [31], Lotterman 2018 [45], Misund 2013 & 2014 [36, 37], Moreyra 2021 [47], Pisoni 2022