Abstract
BACKGROUND: Newborns are immediately admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) after birth, and thus mothers suffer from the pain of mother-infant separation. Some mothers worry about alterations in their child's condition and the uncertainty and high medical costs of possible sequelae, which frequently cause anxiety, depression, and other adverse emotions. AIM: To investigate the anxiety and depression status of mothers of children in the NICU and its related factors. METHODS: A convenient sampling method is adopted. The research objects included the mothers of 191 children in the NICU of Suzhou Ninth Hospital Affiliated with Suzhou University from January 2023 to July 2024. The general information questionnaire, personal control scale, self-rating anxiety scale, and self-rating depression scale were utilized for investigation. Anxiety and depression status in mothers of children in the NICU and its related factors were analyzed. RESULTS: The incidences of maternal anxiety and depression among 191 hospitalized children in the NICU were 32.98% (63/191) and 23.56% (45/191), respectively. Single-factor analysis reveals that family monthly income, individual sense of control, gestational age of the child, and the number of diseases in the child are associated with the anxiety and depression experienced by the mother of the child in the NICU (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that family monthly income of < 5000 yuan (RMB), poor individual control, gestational age of < 32 weeks, and the number of diseases of ≥ 3 kinds are all related factors for anxiety and depression in mothers of children admitted to the NICU (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Mothers of children admitted to the NICU demonstrated high anxiety and depression incidences. The nursing staff in the neonatal department established intervention measures for each related factor, strengthened communication and communication with the mother of the child, and did a good job in psychological counseling.