The effect of stress levels of parents with infants on family empowerment in the newborn intensive care unit

This study aimed to determine the effect of parental stress on family empowerment among parents with infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. The research was conducted with a descriptive and correlational design and included 166 parents. Data were collected between February 2024 and June 2025 from the parents of infants who were hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit of Selçuk University Faculty of Medicine Hospital, located in Konya, Turkey. The data collection tools were the Parent Information Form, the Parental Stressor Scale: NICU, and the Family Empowerment Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance and multiple regression analysis. In this study, the mean age of the parents was 31.1 ± 7.05 years, and the mean gestational age of the infants was 33.97 ± 3.51 weeks. Among the participants, 70.48% were mothers. The mean score on the stress scale was 119.25 ± 25.48, while the mean score on the family empowerment scale was 120.45 ± 26.65. Parental age (β = –0.149), stress level (β = –0.586), closeness to the infant (β = 0.203), and employment status (β = 0.226) were identified as significant predictors of family empowerment. The model accounted for 51.4% of the variance in family empowerment levels (Adjusted R² = 0.514). As a result, parents' age, proximity, and employment status, as well as their stress levels, have a decisive effect on family empowerment. Therefore, it is recommended that holistic interventions are planned to reduce stress levels and support the family empowerment process. Keywords: Family empowerment; parent; nursing; stress; NICU