International Connections Column
Stress, Coping, and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder of French Fathers of Premature Infants,☆☆,

https://doi.org/10.1053/j.nainr.2016.08.003Get rights and content

Abstract

The aim of this study is to explore and analyze the different patterns of paternal stress, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and coping strategies of a French sample of the NICU of Toulouse. Forty-eight fathers of premature infants (26–35 weeks gestational age) participated in this study. Three questionnaires were used: Parental Stress Scale: NICU, PPQ, and CHIP. Principal results show that fathers exhibit high levels of stress, in particular, sights and sounds, and role alteration; as well as a post-traumatic stress symptomatology. They use coping strategies such as family integration and communication with the medical staff in order to balance the stressful situation. Stress symptoms are going to induce PTSD symptoms in approximatively half the cases. However, prematurity level or sociodemographic data do not have a particular effect on the variables.

Section snippets

Participants

The participants were 48 French-speaking fathers of preterm infants, with a gestational age of less than 35 weeks. Infants with congenital problems affecting development (such as Trisomy 21 or Down syndrome) were excluded.

Sociodemographic Data

The data were obtained via a self-report questionnaire; and elements such as the age of the participants, marital status, ethnic group, level of education, occupation, and severity of infants' prematurity are taken into consideration.

Paternal Stress

The paternal stress was measured by the

Sample Characteristics on Main Demographic Details

The mean age of the fathers was 33.5 (SD = 3.5). Paternal age correlated with sights and sounds F (1; 47) = 3.949**. Paternal age also correlated to these coping strategies: social support, psychological stability, and self-esteem F (1; 47) = 3.692**1 and consultation with medical staff and communication with other parents in the NICU F (1; 47) = 4.369***. The older the father was, the more he used social support and communication with the medical staff.

Our sample was homogenous

Discussion

In summary, paternal stress is high during a premature birth, with signs of PTSD syndrome. As many studies admit, fathers of premature infants experience a high4., 12. or moderate level of stress.5

It is reasonable to believe that fathers would experience greater levels of stress during the more acute NICU phase rather than later, that is, within the first two weeks of the infant's birth. Shaw et al. (2009) found that fathers, trying to be supportive to mothers, tend to express their stress

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is necessary to study premature birth using a multidimensional model, in order to understand its complexity and the multiple factors that can play a role in the infant's outcome. Our findings emphasize paternal traumatic perinatal and postnatal experience. This study can also contribute to the proposal of interventions for fathers in the NICU and the improvement of professional practice in French NICU by understanding and taking into consideration the paternal life experience

Acknowledgments

The study was conducted in collaboration with Charlotte Casper and the whole neonate team. The manuscript was reviewed with the help of Julia Kallergi-Sideri.

References (32)

  • B Broger et al.

    Fathers' coping mechanisms related to parenting a chronically ill child: implications for advanced practice nurses

    J Pediatr Health Care

    (2011)
  • F Koliouli et al.

    Life experiences of French premature fathers: a qualitative study

    J Neonatal Nurs

    (2016)
  • Zaouche Gaudron C, Koliouli F, Raynaud JP. Prendre soin des pères de bébés prématurés. IN M. Dugnat (Ed.) Empathie dans...
  • B Lindberg et al.

    Adjusting to being a father to an infant born prematurely: experiences from Swedish fathers

    Scand J Caring Sci

    (2008)
  • P Lundqvist et al.

    Men's experiences of becoming fathers to their preterm infant

    Neonatal Netw

    (2003)
  • T Turan et al.

    Effect of nursing interventions on stressors of parents of premature infants in neonatal intensive care unit

    J Clin Nurs

    (2008)
  • Cited by (28)

    • Parental sense of competence, paternal stress and perceived construction of the relationship with the premature newborn: A mixed method study

      2022, Early Human Development
      Citation Excerpt :

      In our study, fathers evaluate the levels of perceived stress as high. As many studies admit, fathers of premature infants experience a high [18,38–40] or moderate level of stress [41]. In our study, the principal source of stress is the infant's fragile appearance which is also confirmed in other studies [42].

    • Fathers' perceptions of the NICU experience

      2022, Journal of Neonatal Nursing
      Citation Excerpt :

      Most fathers feel they need to be strong for their significant other and family and are responsible for their family's safety and well-being. They think their significant other and child are more important than finding a solution to their own mental anguish (Beck and Vo, 2020; Koliouli et al., 2016; Mahon et al., 2015). Therefore, nurses need to understand fathers' unique experiences in the NICU to help fathers cope with the NICU environment.

    View all citing articles on Scopus

    Conflicts of interest: none.

    ☆☆

    This manuscript is not currently under review or under consideration for publication elsewhere.

    Funding: this research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

    View full text