Which support matters when? Relational functioning and posttraumatic stress in NICU parents.

BACKGROUND: For parents, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is often traumatic as they witness their babies fight for their lives. About 30-40% of parents endorse symptoms of posttraumatic stress (PTS) during or after hospitalisation. Given the importance of relational health for trauma, understanding which relationships may offset risk is key. AIM: We conducted a prospective study to examine whether relational functioning during the NICU was uniquely associated with parental PTS in the NICU and at 1- and 3-month follow-ups. METHODS: = 144) of babies in the NICU completed validated measures of PTS and relational functioning (general social support, family support, couple satisfaction, parent-staff interactions). We conducted hierarchical regressions to examine which sources of support (during the NICU) were associated with PTS at each timepoint. CONCLUSION: Multidimensional social support and couple satisfaction may buffer the effects of NICU trauma on PTS. Relational interventions that leverage general support during the NICU and enhance the quality of the parents' relationship may help to reduce risk for parental PTSD.