Parental Depression Symptoms at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Discharge and Associated Risk Factors.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prevalence and risk factors associated with parental depressive symptoms at neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) discharge and determine the relationships among depressive symptoms, stress, and social support.

STUDY DESIGN

Parents participating in the Giving Parents Support trial (n = 300) were surveyed before NICU discharge. Depressive symptoms, stress, and social support were assessed using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10), Parental Stressor Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (PSS:NICU), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Regression analyses examined relationships among depressive symptoms, stress, social support, and parent/infant factors.

RESULTS

At NICU discharge, 45% of parents reported depressive symptoms and 43% reported elevated perceived stress. Increased odds of elevated depressive symptoms were associated with older gestational age (P = .02), female infant (P = .02), and longer length of stay (P = .045). Odds of depression were 7.87 (95% CI, 2.15-28.75) for parents of infants with gestational age ≥37 weeks compared with gestational age <28 weeks. Parental NICU stress was higher in younger parents (P < .01). Depressive symptoms were positively associated with parental stress. Each 1-point increase in PSS:NICU score was associated with a 2.1-point (95% CI, 1.6-2.9; P < .001) increase in CESD-10 score. Social support was inversely associated with depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of depressive symptoms in parents at NICU discharge was high, even among parents of term infants. Older gestational age, greater parental stress, and lower levels of social support were strong correlates of depressive symptoms. Strategies to support parents, including depression screening, stress reduction strategies, and mental health referrals, are needed.