Neonatal intensive care unit admission and maternal postpartum depression. (27th May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wyatt, Tara; Shreffler, Karina M.; Ciciolla, Lucia
• Is Part Of: Journal of reproductive and infant psychology. Volume 37:Number 3(2019)
• Page Start: 267
• Page End: 276
• Publication Date: 2019-05-27
• Subjects: NICU -- Neonatal intensive care -- postnatal depression -- mother(s); Human reproduction -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Pregnancy -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Infant psychology -- Periodicals; Reproduction -- Periodicals; Child Psychology -- Periodicals; Women -- psychology -- Periodicals; 612.6
• DOI: 10.1080/02646838.2018.1548756
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-6838

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Objective : This study aimed to examine the impact of newborns' Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) admittance on maternal postpartum depression. Background : Prior research on the parental psychological impacts of a NICU admittance typically includes a hospital sample of parents following birth, so the causality of NICU admittance and maternal depressive symptomatology is unclear. Methods : 127 women across 38 counties in a South Central US state participated in online surveys in their third trimester and approximately six weeks post-birth in 2016. Pre- and post-birth assessments of depression were measured with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). NICU admittance was asked in the post-birth survey. t -Tests and multivariable regression analyses were used to determine predictors of NICU admittance and postnatal depressive symptomatology. Results : Findings indicate that prenatal depression does not differ significantly between mothers by NICU admission status, but NICU admission is a significant predictor of postpartum depressive symptomatology. Conclusions : Having a newborn admitted to the NICU is a risk factor for maternal postpartum depression. These findings have implications for practice; screening mothers in the NICU for depression as a target for intervention has the potential to improve maternal well-being, which in turn should enhance subsequent infant developmental outcomes.