Posttraumatic stress in NICU mothers: modeling the roles of childhood trauma and infant health

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate acute stress disorder (ASD) symptoms and their predictors in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) mothers.

Study design: In this cross-sectional study, 119 mothers (~72% Medicaid) completed surveys during the first month of their infants' hospitalizations. Correlations and structural equation models (SEMs) evaluated relations among mothers' childhood trauma history, infant health appraisals, objective infant health, and ASD.

Result: ASD symptoms (~55%) and childhood trauma (~33%) were prevalent. ASD was correlated with childhood trauma, infant health, and infant health appraisals. All SEMs had good fit, indicating that (a) infant health appraisals partially mediated relations between childhood trauma and ASD, and (b) infant health appraisals fully mediated relations between objective infant health and ASD.

Conclusion: ASD symptoms are prevalent among NICU mothers regardless of infant health severity. Recognition of childhood trauma history and appraisals of infant health is critical for trauma-informed care.