Abstract
Background
Parental stress in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is a common challenge, as hospitalization of newborns creates emotional, psychological, and social strain on families. Effective coping strategies and nursing support interventions are crucial in mitigating these stresses and improving parental well-being.
Aim
The study aimed to assess parental stress levels, identify coping strategies, and explore the role of nursing support interventions among parents of neonates admitted to the NICU at Saidu Teaching Hospital, Swat.
Methods
A mixed-methods design was employed, integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches. The quantitative arm included 290 parents selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Parental Stressor Scale: NICU (PSS: NICU) and the COPE Inventory. The qualitative arm involved semi-structured interviews with 15 purposively selected parents. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 25 with descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis.
Results
Findings revealed that 53.4% of parents experienced moderate stress, 25.9% high stress, and 20.7% low stress. Problem-focused coping was most frequently used (M = 3.85, SD = 0.72), followed by emotion-focused (M = 3.41, SD = 0.81), with avoidance strategies least adopted (M = 2.96, SD = 0.69). Education was significantly associated with stress (χ² = 9.56, p = 0.04). Qualitative themes emphasized the importance of nursing support, communication, and emotional reassurance in alleviating stress.
Conclusion
Parental stress in the NICU is prevalent and shaped by educational background and coping mechanisms. Strengthening family-centered care and nursing support interventions is essential to reduce parental stress and promote well-being.