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Sadat Hosseini A S, Begjani J, Azarnia Ghavam M, Rajabi M M. Comparison of Anxiety Among Mothers of Preterm and Term Infants Hospitalized in Neonatal Intensive Care Units During the COVID-19 Pandemic. SJNMP 2026; 11 (2)
URL: http://sjnmp.muk.ac.ir/article-1-693-en.html
URL: http://sjnmp.muk.ac.ir/article-1-693-en.html
Akram Sadat Sadat Hosseini1 
, Jamalodin Begjani1 , Mojgan Azarnia Ghavam1 , Mohammad Mehdi Rajabi *2
, Jamalodin Begjani1 , Mojgan Azarnia Ghavam1 , Mohammad Mehdi Rajabi *2
1- Department of Pediatric Nursing and Neonatal Intensive Care, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran. Iran
2- Department of Pediatric Nursing and Neonatal Intensive Care, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran. Iran ,mmehdirajabi1379@gmail.com
2- Department of Pediatric Nursing and Neonatal Intensive Care, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran. Iran ,
Abstract: (22 Views)
Background and Aim: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected the mental health of the general population. Mothers of preterm infants are at risk of anxiety due to their infants’ hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and the COVID-19 pandemic may exacerbate their psychological burden. This study aimed to compare anxiety between mothers of preterm infants and mothers of term infants during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Materials & Methods: This comparative descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022 in the neonatal intensive care units of Bahrami Children’s Hospital, Tehran. A total of 220 mothers, including 110 mothers of preterm infants and 110 mothers of term infants, were recruited using convenience sampling. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Corona Disease Anxiety Scale. Data were analyzed using independent-samples t-test, chi-square test, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) in SPSS version 24.
Results: The results of ANCOVA showed that mothers of preterm infants had significantly higher scores than mothers of term infants in state anxiety (48.38±4.80 vs. 26.82±2.96, P<0.001), trait anxiety (42.29±6.75 vs. 28.33±4.05, P<0.001), and COVID-19 anxiety (33.03±3.56 vs. 20.90±7.23, P<0.001).
Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, mothers of preterm infants hospitalized in neonatal intensive care units reported higher levels of anxiety compared with mothers of term infants. Attention to the psychological needs of mothers of preterm infants and the provision of psychological support, counseling, and anxiety-management strategies are essential during public health crises.
Materials & Methods: This comparative descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022 in the neonatal intensive care units of Bahrami Children’s Hospital, Tehran. A total of 220 mothers, including 110 mothers of preterm infants and 110 mothers of term infants, were recruited using convenience sampling. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Corona Disease Anxiety Scale. Data were analyzed using independent-samples t-test, chi-square test, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) in SPSS version 24.
Results: The results of ANCOVA showed that mothers of preterm infants had significantly higher scores than mothers of term infants in state anxiety (48.38±4.80 vs. 26.82±2.96, P<0.001), trait anxiety (42.29±6.75 vs. 28.33±4.05, P<0.001), and COVID-19 anxiety (33.03±3.56 vs. 20.90±7.23, P<0.001).
Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, mothers of preterm infants hospitalized in neonatal intensive care units reported higher levels of anxiety compared with mothers of term infants. Attention to the psychological needs of mothers of preterm infants and the provision of psychological support, counseling, and anxiety-management strategies are essential during public health crises.
Keywords: Anxiety, Intensive Care Units, Neonatal, Infant, Premature, Mothers, Mental Health, COVID-19
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
General
Received: 2026/03/16 | Revised: 2026/09/14 | Accepted: 2026/09/13 | Published: 2026/01/10 | ePublished: 2026/01/10
Received: 2026/03/16 | Revised: 2026/09/14 | Accepted: 2026/09/13 | Published: 2026/01/10 | ePublished: 2026/01/10
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