Abstract
Parents of ICN neonates were administered the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Spielberger, 1983) following admission to ICN and approximately 7 days pre-discharge. Parents of well neonates two to three days of age were also studied. From the data obtained mean state anxiety (SA) was greater than trait anxiety (TA) for both mothers and fathers although statistically significant only for mothers (p <.05). SA levels for ICN mothers were higher than those of ICN fathers (p <.05), “well” nursery mothers (p <.001), and published norms for an age-matched female population (x=36.17) (p <.001). A significant decrease in mothers' state anxiety (p <.025) occurred over time such that their pre-discharge levels approached normal. No correlation between a Neonatal Morbidity Scale (Minde et al, 1983) and maternal anxiety was found. Ongoing analyses of demographic variables and characteristics of the ICN are being carried out to identify factors which influence parental anxiety.
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Katzman, G., McQuiston, S., McCartney, E. et al. 47 ANXIETY LEVELS OF PARENTS OF INTENSIVE CARE NURSERY (ICN) PATIENTS. Pediatr Res 19, 118 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-00077
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-00077