Parental stress in the paediatric intensive care unit: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Admission of a child to the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) is associated with significant psychological stress among parents due to exposure to invasive procedures, unfamiliar environment and uncertainty regarding outcomes. Several studies have reported substantial parental stress in such settings. The objective of the study is to assess parental stress among parents of children admitted to the PICU and to evaluate the influence of clinical and sociodemographic factors on stress levels. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 parents of children aged 1 month to 15 years admitted to a PICU. Parents of children admitted for at least 24 h were included. Parental stress was assessed using the Parental Stressor Scale–PICU, with minor contextual modifications. Sociodemographic variables and clinical factors including duration of PICU stay were recorded. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation. The mean duration of PICU stay was 7.05 ± 2.8 days. A weak but statistically significant positive correlation was observed between duration of PICU stay and parental stress (r = 0.24, p = 0.0159). Higher stress scores were associated with invasive procedures, environmental factors such as alarms, presence of tubes, suctioning and parental role alteration. Parents with lower educational and socioeconomic status demonstrated higher stress levels. Parents of children admitted to the PICU experience considerable psychological stress influenced by both clinical and sociodemographic factors. Identification of key stressors may help in developing strategies to improve family-centred care and provide better psychosocial support.