Aftyka Anna, Rozalska Ilona, Milanowska Joanna
Department of Anaesthesiological and Intensive Care Nursing, Medical University, Lublin, Poland.
Department of Applied Psychology, Medical University, Lublin, Poland.
Ann Agric Environ Med. 2020 Mar 17;27(1):106-112. doi: 10.26444/aaem/105800. Epub 2019 Apr 18.
The birth of a sick child, as well as the infant's subsequent hospitalization in an neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), is undoubtedly stressful for the parents of the infant. Most studies conducted in groups of parents of such children focus on the assessment of the negative changes in their functioning due to such stress. The authors were interested in positive changes in the psychological functioning of parents that may occur after traumatic experiences. These changes are referred to as post-traumatic growth (PTG).
The aim of this study was to examine whether parents experience post-traumatic growth and to determine the predictors of PTG in fathers and mothers, depending on the coping strategy adopted.
The study involved 82 parents, whose children were previously hospitalized in neonatal intensive care unit. The methods used included the following standardized psychological tests: the Post-traumatic Growth Inventory, the Impact of Event Scale-Revised, and the COPE Inventory. Socio-demographic and medical data were also collected.
Analysis of the data proved that the illness and hospitalization of a child are significantly associated with the occurrence of post-traumatic growth in parents. PTG in mothers is higher than in fathers. Predictors of PTG in fathers include the use of strategies aimed at seeking emotional support and positive reinterpretation and growth, while in the group of mothers, seeking emotional support, religious coping and planning were the coping strategies used.
Research on post-traumatic growth should be expanded. Knowledge of the predictors of positive growth in a difficult situation can contribute to the widespread implementation of primary and secondary prevention of post-traumatic stress symptoms as well as increase positive changes in individuals who have experienced traumatic events.
患病儿童的出生以及随后在新生儿重症监护病房（NICU）的住院治疗，无疑会给婴儿的父母带来压力。大多数针对此类儿童父母群体开展的研究都聚焦于评估这种压力对他们机能产生的负面变化。作者对创伤经历后父母心理机能可能出现的积极变化感兴趣。这些变化被称为创伤后成长（PTG）。
本研究旨在探讨父母是否经历创伤后成长，并根据所采用的应对策略确定父亲和母亲创伤后成长的预测因素。
该研究涉及82名父母，他们的孩子此前在新生儿重症监护病房住院。所使用的方法包括以下标准化心理测试：创伤后成长问卷、事件影响量表修订版和应对方式问卷。还收集了社会人口统计学和医学数据。
数据分析证明，孩子的疾病和住院与父母创伤后成长的发生显著相关。母亲的创伤后成长高于父亲。父亲创伤后成长的预测因素包括使用旨在寻求情感支持以及积极重新诠释和成长的策略，而在母亲群体中，寻求情感支持、宗教应对和计划是所采用的应对策略。
应扩大对创伤后成长的研究。了解困境中积极成长的预测因素有助于广泛实施创伤后应激症状的一级和二级预防，也能增加经历创伤事件个体的积极变化。
