Early parenthood development and depression in parents of NICU survivors: Identifying key factors for targeted intervention

Purpose This study examined early parenthood development and depressive symptoms in parents of infants discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Specifically, we explored the association between depressive symptoms and aspects of parenthood development and identified factors associated with an increased risk of parental depression. The ultimate aim was to inform targeted interventions for families after NICU discharge. Methods Parents of infants at three months corrected age after NICU admission completed questionnaires assessing depressive symptoms, parent-child bonding, parental confidence, perceptions of infant behaviour, parenting satisfaction, and family strain. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with depressive symptoms. Results The study included 530 parents of 271 infants admitted to the NICU of a single medical centre. Parents reported fewer bonding problems than normative samples of parents with infants. Forty-four percent reported satisfaction with feeding, sleeping, and comforting their infants. However, depressive symptoms were more prevalent than in normative populations, with 41% of parents scoring above the risk threshold. Factors independently associated with depressive symptoms at three months corrected age included being the mother rather than the father, being born outside the Netherlands, having an infant with grade II or higher intraventricular hemorrhage, and being identified as potentially requiring psychosocial support during the NICU admission. Conclusions While many parents reported positive relationships with their infants, a substantial proportion experienced depressive symptoms. These findings underscore the need for targeted psychosocial support during NICU admission and throughout the post-discharge period.