Parenting Stress, Sleep, and Psychological Adjustment in Parents of Infants and Toddlers With Congenital Heart Disease

Abstract

Objective Parents of children with chronic medical needs report increased parenting challenges, poor sleep, and maladjustment. The impact of parenting stress on both sleep and adjustment has yet to be evaluated for parents of infants and young children with congenital heart disease (CHD). We studied the relations among parenting stress, sleep, and adjustment in parents of infants and toddlers with CHD. We expected that sleep quality would mediate the relationship between parenting stress and adjustment. Methods Sixty-nine parents of infants and toddlers with CHD were evaluated on self-report measures of illness-related parenting stress (Pediatric Inventory for Parents), sleep (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), and psychological adjustment (Brief Symptom Index-18). Results The parents of infants and toddlers with CHD reported elevated levels of parenting stress, sleep problems, and maladjustment. The positive relationship between parenting stress and parent maladjustment was mediated by sleep quality. Conclusions Findings suggest that parents of infants and toddlers with CHD report high parenting stress, poor sleep, and maladjustment. Analyses indicate the stress-adjustment relationship is mediated by quality of sleep. Given the multiple demands on parents of infants and children with CHD, it is important to attend to parents’ overall functioning and mental health. Our findings highlight targets for intervention to improve the well-being of parents of young children with CHD.

Mental Health Disorders in Children With Congenital Heart Disease

“…Additionally, the impact of increased parental stress, coping, and anxiety has been well described in parents of children with CHD. 29,30 There are multiple theoretical models (eg, double ABCX, Thompson stress and coping model), [31][32][33] as well as a model unique to infants with CHD, 34,35 in support of this hypothesis. Obesity is a common acquired condition that is prevalent in the population of CHD patients and is correlated with higher rates of ADHD, depression, and conduct disorder diagnoses.…”

Effects of WeChat follow‐up management of infants who underwent ventricular septal defect repair on parents' disease knowledge and quality of life: A prospective randomized controlled study

“…18 At the same time, the parents also have different degrees of depression and other emotions during this period. 6,7 After the operation, the parents lack knowledge about the disease and worry about the patients' prognosis, leading to the parents' inability to respond effectively during the home care process. Caring for infants in such circumstances can strain the family's cognitive, emotional, and physical functioning, lead to emotional problems and a decrease in the family members' quality of life.…”

“…During the treatment process, the patients are separated from their parents, and the emotional connection is interrupted, which can cause emotional reactions, such as separation anxiety 18 . At the same time, the parents also have different degrees of depression and other emotions during this period 6,7 . After the operation, the parents lack knowledge about the disease and worry about the patients' prognosis, leading to the parents' inability to respond effectively during the home care process.…”

“…Regardless of the severity of the patient's illness, the parents will experience destructive emotions, such as high levels of depression, anxiety, despair, traumatic stress, etc. 6,7 A lousy mood will place an additional burden on the parents and affect the recovery of the patients to a certain extent.…”

“…Postoperative complications such as heart block, pulmonary infection, and poor wound healing may occur in infants, 4,5 so they need to be cared for by family members after discharge. Regardless of the severity of the patient's illness, the parents will experience destructive emotions, such as high levels of depression, anxiety, despair, traumatic stress, etc 6,7 . A lousy mood will place an additional burden on the parents and affect the recovery of the patients to a certain extent.…”