Stress, Coping, and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder of French Fathers of Premature Infants

Abstract

The aim of this study is to explore and analyze the different patterns of paternal stress, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and coping strategies of a French sample of the NICU of Toulouse. Forty-eight fathers of premature infants (26–35 weeks gestational age) participated in this study. Three questionnaires were used: Parental Stress Scale: NICU, PPQ, and CHIP. Principal results show that fathers exhibit high levels of stress, in particular, sights and sounds, and role alteration; as well as a post-traumatic stress symptomatology. They use coping strategies such as family integration and communication with the medical staff in order to balance the stressful situation. Stress symptoms are going to induce PTSD symptoms in approximatively half the cases. However, prematurity level or sociodemographic data do not have a particular effect on the variables.