Open AccessArticle
Maternal Stress Responses and Coping Following a NICU Experience
by
Kim K. Doheny, Fumiyuki C. Gardner, Saher Ali, Brittany J. Fronheiser, Claire J. Miller and Gina M. Brelsford
Children 2025, 12(6), 660; https://doi.org/10.3390/children12060660 (registering DOI) - 22 May 2025
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Mothers of infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) experience significant stress, which can have lasting effects on mental health and parent–infant bonding. This mixed-methods study aimed to explore maternal stress response, coping, and resilience by examining physiological stress
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Background/Objectives: Mothers of infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) experience significant stress, which can have lasting effects on mental health and parent–infant bonding. This mixed-methods study aimed to explore maternal stress response, coping, and resilience by examining physiological stress markers and maternal narratives.
Methods: A total of 28 mothers who had an infant hospitalized in the NICU within the past three years participated in a two-hour laboratory session, which included stress induction using the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Salivary cortisol (sCort) and heart rate variability (HRV) were measured to assess physiological responses.
Results: Qualitative analysis of maternal narratives identified two distinct response patterns: an anger/trauma (AT) group (
n = 7) and a gratitude/optimism (GO) group (
n = 6), with the remaining 15 mothers classified as a mixed (M) group. GO mothers exhibited significantly higher cortisol reactivity during recovery compared to AT mothers (
p < 0.01). While GO mothers had higher baseline HF-HRV, no significant between-group differences were found in HRV responses.
Conclusions: Findings suggest that maternal perception of NICU experiences is associated with distinct physiological stress response patterns, highlighting the importance of stress appraisal and coping in maternal well-being.
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