The Effect of Applying Problem-solving Skills on Stress Coping Styles and Emotional Selfefficacy in Mothers of Preterm Neonates: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Authors

1 Department of Neonatal and Pediatric Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran;

2 Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran;

3 Department of Mental Health, school of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

Background: Dysfunctional stress-coping styles may accelerate negative emotional self-efficacy in the mothers of preterm neonates. This study was conducted to determine the effect of applying problem-solving skills on stress-coping styles and emotional self-efficacy in mothers of preterm neonates.
Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted from January 2020 to February 2021 in 4 neonatal intensive care units (NICU) of Mashhad, Iran. 60 mothers were selected using convenience sampling method and randomly assigned to control and intervention groups. The intervention group was divided into groups of 3-5 people to attend 6 sessions of at least 60 minutes held 3 times a week for two weeks and received training on problem-solving skills. The control group received routine care. Data were collected using demographic characteristic forms, problem-solving inventory, ways of Coping Questionnaire, and the emotional self-efficacy scale. The tools were initially filled out by both groups and re-completed at the end of the second week after the intervention and four weeks later. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21 and the significance level of less than 0.05. Independent and paired t-test, Mann-Whitney, Chi-square, Fisher’s exact test, repeated measures, and Bonferroni post hoc test were used.
Results: Analysis of variance with repeated measures showed that in the intervention group, there was an increase in the scores of problem-focused style (before: 37.9±6.3; immediately: 46.2±5.3; one month later: 47.5±5.6) (P<0.001), a decrease in scores of emotion-focused style (before: 44.0±6.9; immediately: 38.6±6.2; one month later: 38.0±4.4) (P<0.001), and an increase in mothers’ emotional self-efficacy (before: 113.0±14.9; immediately: 130.3±10.6; one month later: 134.5±8.3) (P<0.001).
Conclusion: Problem-solving skills are recommended to be used in NICU to empower mothers to adopt appropriate strategies for dealing with the situational stress of having a preterm neonate and to increase emotional self-efficacy.
Trial Registration Number: IRCT20191211045696N1.
 

Highlights

Mahbubeh Bagheri (Google Scholar) (PubMed)

Monir Ramezani (Google Scholar) (PubMed)

Keywords

References

  1. Ghazi M, Zare M, Ramezani M, et al. The Effect of Home Visit Program Based on the Continued Kangaroo Mother Care on Maternal Resiliency and Development of Premature Infant: A Randomized Clinical Trial. International Journal of Community Based Nursing and Midwifery. 2021;9:64-75.
  2. Sharifi N, Khazaeian S, Pakzad R, et al. Investigating the Prevalence of Preterm Birth in Iranian Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Caring Sciences. 2017;6:371-80.
  3. Mohamammadie ZR, Ramezani M, Heidarzadeh M, et al. The effect of head positioning on brain tissue oxygenation in preterm infants: a randomized clinical trial study. Journal of Perinatology. 2022;42:660-6.
  4. Peiravi Dehsorkhi T, Behnam Vashani H, Ramezani M, Shojaeian R. Effect of Maternal Empowerment Program on Neonatal Colostomy Complications and Maternal Distress Tolerance. Evidence Based Care Journal. 2020;10:23-32.
  5. Bernardo JP, Johnson CT, Keiser A, et al. Early Readmissions following NICU Discharges Among a National Sample: Associated Factors and Cost. Pediatrics. 2021;147:694-5.
  6. Coughlin ME. Transformative nursing in the NICU: Trauma informed age-appropriate care. New York: Springer Publishing Company: 2014.
  7. Wuni A, Abu Iddrisu O, Chanayireh L, et al. Environmental stressors, coping mechanisms and support system for mothers with infants at the neonatal intensive care unit: a descriptive cross-sectional study. PAMJ One Health. 2022;9:12.
  8. Ionio C, Colombo C, Brazzoduro V, et al. Mothers and Fathers in NICU: The Impact of Preterm Birth on Parental Distress. Europe’s Journal of Psychology. 2016;12:604-21.
  9. Laccetta G, Di Chiara M, De Nardo MC, Terrin G. Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder in parents of preterm newborns: A systematic review of interventions and prevention strategies. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 2023;14:998995.
  10. Petit A-C, Eutrope J, Thierry A, et al. Mother’s Emotional and Posttraumatic Reactions after a Preterm Birth: The Mother-Infant Interaction Is at Stake 12 Months after Birth. PLoS One. 2016;11:e0151091.
  11. Heidarzadeh M, Heidari H, Ahmadi A, et al. Evaluation of parental stress in neonatal intensive care unit in Iran: a national study. BMC Nursing. 2023;22:41.
  12. Lau C, Turcich MR, Smith EO. Early detection of parenting stress in mothers of preterm infants during their first-year home. BMC Psychology. 2020;8:66.
  13. Wilson-Costello D, Friedman H, Minich N, et al. Improved neurodevelopmental outcomes for extremely low birth weight infants in 2000-2002. Pediatrics. 2007;119:37-45.
  14. Nopembri S, Sugiyama Y, Saryono, Rithaudin A. Improving stress coping and problem-solving skills of children in disaster-prone area through cooperative physical education and sports lesson. Journal of Human Sport and Exercise. 2019;14:185-94.
  15. D’zurilla TJ, Goldfried MR. Problem solving and behavior modification. Journal of Abnormal Psychology. 1971;78:107-26.
  16. Wu Y, Yu W, Wu X, et al. Psychological resilience and positive coping styles among Chinese undergraduate students: a cross-sectional study. BMC Psychology. 2020;8:79.
  17. Kirk BA, Schutte NS, Hine DW. Development and preliminary validation of an emotional self-efficacy scale. Journal of Personality and Individual Differences. 2008;45:432-6.
  18. Momenizadeh A, Zeraati H, Shahinfar J, Ghorbanzadeh M. Coping with stress in mothers of preterm infants hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit. Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 2017;4:23-8. [In Persian]
  19. Karbandi S, Momenizadeh A, Heidarzadeh M, et al. Effects of Empowering Mothers of Premature Infants on Their Stress Coping Strategies. Iran Journal of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. 2018;12:e11671.
  20. Heppner P. The problem solving inventory. In: Tate RL. A Compendium of Tests, Scales and Questionnaires. 1st ed. London: Psychology Press; 2010.
  21. Feizi Konjini L, Fadakar Soghe R, Chehrzad M, Kazemnejad Leili E. Problem Solving Skills and their Related Factors in Nursing Students. Journal of Holistic Nursing and Midwifery. 2016;26:86-95. [In Persian]
  22. Folkman S, Lazarus R. If it changes it must be a process: A study of emotion and coping during three stages of a college examination. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 1985;48:150-70.
  23. Clark K, Bormann C, Cropanzano R, James K. Validation Evidence for Three Coping Measures. Journal of Personality Assessment. 1995;65:434-55.
  24. Shamsi Khani S, Rahgoo A, Fallahi Khoshknab M, Rahgozar M. Effects of problem solving training on coping skills of suicidal clients. Iranian Journal of Nursing Research. 2007;1:31-9. [In Persian]
  25. Khodayarifard M, Manzari Tavakoli V, Farahani H. Reliability and Validity of the Persian Version of Emotional Self-Efficacy Scale. Journal of Psychology. 2012;16:70-83. [In Persian]
  26. Hoseini Z, Azkhosh M, Younesi J, Soltani E. The Effectiveness of Problem Solving Therapy on Coping Skills in women with type 2 diabetes. Iranian Rehabilitation Journal. 2014;12:39-43.
  27. Zenoozian S, Gharraee B, Yekke Yazdandoost R. Efficacy of Problem Solving Training in Changing Coping Strategies of University Students. Journal of Psychology. 2011;5:83-101. [In Persian]
  28. Seeed N. The Effect of Problem-Solving Training on the Students Stress Coping Strategies and Responsibility. Social Cognition. 2019;8:100-20. [In Persian]
  29. Nguyen CT, Fairclough DL, Noll RB. Problem-solving skills training for mothers of children recently diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder: A pilot feasibility study. Autism. 2016;20:55-64.
  30. Motamedi H, Samavi A, Fallahchaei R. Investigating and comparing the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy on emotional self-efficacy of female-headed women. Iranian Evolutionary and Educational Psychology Journal. 2019;1:123-34.
  31. Dacre Pool L, Qualter P. Improving emotional intelligence and emotional self-efficacy through a teaching intervention for university students. Learning and Individual Differences. 2012;22:306-12.
International Journal of Community Based Nursing & Midwifery
Volume 12, Issue 4 - Serial Number 48
October 2024
Pages 254-266

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics