The effects of parental stress on hospital supportive service utilization

The premature delivery of an infant (prior to 37 weeks gestation) precipitates an emotional and stressful period for many families. This is especially true when the infant requires a period of extended hospitalization within a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Parents frequently identify the need for support while in the NICU; however, may simultaneously distance themselves from traditional forms of support such as family and friends. Recognizing this tendency, many NICUs provide hospital based supportive services such as social workers, religious counselors, and support groups to assist parents who might benefit from additional support. This study examined the relationship between parental stress levels related to the NICU and subsequent utilization of these hospital based supportive services. The mediating effects of social support on service utilization and stress were also examined. Forty-four parent participants completed a Demographic Questionnaire, the Utilization of Services Scale, the Parental Stressor Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (PSS: NICU), and the Perceived Social Support for Family and Friends (PSS: Fa and PSS: Fr). A positive correlation was found between increased parental stress levels and their utilization of hospital supportive services. Results further supported a significant positive correlation between stress and seeking social support from friends, but not from family. Results support the need for increased attention to both the family centered and developmentally centered care models of service delivery to reduce parental stress.