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Cited by 10Religion, Spirituality, and PsychologyInfant Development and Preterm CareMaternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum

Parents’ spiritual struggles and stress: Associations with mental health and cognitive well-being following a neonatal intensive care unit experience

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Brelsford, Gina M., Doheny, Kim K.·2022·Psychology of Religion and Spirituality
DOI 10.1037/rel0000381
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Abstract

When infants require care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) after birth, their parents often experience a traumatic disruption in expectations of parenthood and encounter spiritual struggles related to their mental health. This study explored 185 parents’ reports on spiritual struggles and stress in association with their depression, anxiety, and well-being following their infant’s discharge from the NICU. Parents from the state of Pennsylvania who had an infant born between 26- and 34-weeks’ gestation (131 biological mothers, 52 biological fathers, 2 non-biological primary caregiver fathers) responded to questionnaires sent to mothers. Results indicated that parents who experienced higher levels of NICU-related stress also reported more depression, anxiety, and spiritual struggles, while reporting lower cognitive well-being. Further, even after accounting for NICU-related stress, spiritual struggles with ultimate meaning, in particular, remained significantly related to parents’ anxiety, depression, and well-being following NICU discharge. This research highlights the importance of exploring parents’ religious and spiritual struggles and mental health after the experience of a potentially traumatic life event, such as a NICU stay. Implications for family-based NICU interventions are also discussed.

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Research works printed but not linked: 9

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  2. Brelsford, G. M., Ramirez, J., Veneman, K., & Doheny, K. K. (2016). Religious and Secular Coping and Family Relationships in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Advances in Neonatal Care: Official Journal of the National Association of Neonatal Nurses, 16(4),
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Authors
Brelsford, G. M., & Doheny, K. K.
Affiliations
Pennsylvania State University (US)
ORCID
Venue
Psychology of Religion and Spirituality
Publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
Published
2022-02
Volume
14
Issue
1
Pages
119-127
ISSN
  • 1941-1022 (ISSN-L)
  • 1943-1562
DOI
10.1037/rel0000381
OpenAlex
W3083725518
Cited by
10
References
40
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1
FWCI
0.69
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Psychology of Religion and Spirituality (publishedVersion)
  • ScholarSphere (Penn State Libraries) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Children’s Miracle Network
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Infant Development and Preterm Care
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
Keywords
neonatal intensive care unit, parental stress, spiritual struggle, parental depression, parental anxiety, cognitive well-being, meaning in life, parental mental health, preterm infants, family intervention, parenthood

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