Anxiety and depression in parents of sick neonates: a hospital-based study

Aims and objectives To investigate the prevalence of anxiety and depression in parents of hospitalised neonates and to analyse their relationship with other factors such as stress and social support, to provide evidence for targeted clinical interventions. Background The perinatal period, a special susceptibility to negative emotions, is a period that women and their spouses have to face. In this time, the fact that the neonates have to be hospitalised is no doubt a huge psychological stress to their parents. Little understanding of the hospitalisation environment, lacking awareness of neonatal diseases as well as concerns about the neonates' safety, can easily lead to negative emotions in parents. Under the influence of negative mood, parents could become irritable and vulnerable, which may do harm to their physical and mental health, impact family harmony and even result in ineffective communication with doctors, affecting the care of neonates. Design This study applied a cross‐sectional study design. Methods The psychological status of 600 parents (400 fathers and 200 mothers) was assessed in the first week of the hospitalisation of neonates, using the Self‐Rating Anxiety Scale, Self‐Rating Depressive Scale, Social Support Rating Scale and Perceived Stress Scale. Results The results of the cross‐sectional survey showed that 20% of fathers and 24% of mothers had symptoms of anxiety, while 30·8% of fathers and 35% of mothers had depressive symptoms. The total scores for anxiety and depression in these parents were significantly higher than the normal population (p