COVID-19 History Increases the Anxiety of Mothers with Children in Intensive Care during the Pandemic in Turkey

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the mental status of mothers whose children were hospitalized during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in places where risk factors are higher such as pediatric intensive care units, and to contribute to the development of psychological health policies, especially for these high-risk groups in epidemic situations. Method: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2021 and July 2021. The population of the study was mothers whose children were hospitalized in the pediatric intensive care unit during the study period. Data collection was carried out via a face-to-face interview method by experienced nurses working in pediatric clinics using a sociodemographic data form, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Fear of COVID-19 Inventory, and the Coronavirus Anxiety Inventory. Results: The median age of the participants was 33 (min: 21, max: 50). The Beck Anxiety score was affected by the child’s diagnosis, location, and history of COVID-19 (* P = 0.011, ** P = 0.018, and *** P = 0.002, respectively). Similarly, the Beck Depression score was affected by the child’s diagnosis and history of COVID-19 in a relative (* P = 0.034 and ** P = 0.037, respectively). The Coronavirus Anxiety score was affected by a history of COVID-19 in a relative and work status (* P = 0.040 and ** P = 0.005, respectively), while the Fear of COVID-19 score was not significantly affected by any variable. In a logistic regression model, previous COVID-19 experience was independently associated with anxiety; a history of COVID-19 increased the risk of developing anxiety by approximately 15 times (odds ratio: 14.915, 95% CI: 2.075–107.192). Conclusion: When children of mothers with a history of COVID-19 are hospitalized, special attention should be given to their mothers concerning psychological support and assistance.

The relationship between maternal anxiety due to the COVID-19 pandemic and children's anxiety following school reopening in the post-pandemic era: an analytical cross-sectional study

“…Conversely, Yildiz et al ( 2022) examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the anxiety of mothers with children requiring special care in Turkey. They observed that maternal anxiety increased with the age of the children, contradicting our results [37]. The discrepancy between this study and ours could potentially stem from variations in the health status of the children under study (requiring intensive care) and the assessment tool utilized to measure COVID-related anxiety.…”

Unraveling Depressive Symptomatology and Risk Factors in a Changing World

“…These groups may be at increased risk of developing depression and other mental health problems because of the added stress and challenges they have faced. Other interesting topics to discuss in future work are the mental health of people whose sexual lives as couples were altered during the pandemic [ 29 ], as well as the mental health of parents whose children were hospitalized due to COVID-19 [ 30 ].…”

Parent Experiences in the NICU and Transition to Home

“…Familycentered rounds include discussion with family members present, although there is variability in the specific aspects of implementation [11]. Due to the importance of parents being present in the NICU, their mental and physical health during this challenging time has been increasingly explored [12,13]. Despite the establishment of parent involvement as best practice, the technical, fast-paced, and demanding environment of the NICU can be inconsistent in supporting the establishment of parent-provider working relationships [13,14].…”