Parental Role Beliefs and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit–Related Stress Among Turkish Parents: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

AIM: This study was conducted to determine and compare stress levels, parental role beliefs, and their associated factors among the parents of preterm infants hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit in İstanbul, Türkiye.

METHODS: This descriptive, cross-sectional, comparative study was carried out between April 2023 and April 2024 with both parents of 120 preterm infants hospitalized in the level-3 neonatal intensive care unit of a university hospital in İstanbul, Türkiye. Data were collected using sociodemographic information forms, the Parental Stressor Scale:neonatal intensive care unit, and the neonatal intensive care unit Parental Beliefs Scale.

RESULTS: Both mothers and fathers of preterm infants hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit reported moderate levels of stress and parental role beliefs. On the Parental Stressor Scale:neonatal intensive care unit scale, Parental Role Alterations subscale scores were significantly higher among mothers compared to fathers (p = .001). In contrast, Parental Role Confidence subscale and total neonatal intensive care unit-Parental Beliefs Scale scores were higher among fathers (p = .001). Parental Stressor Scale:neonatal intensive care unit and neonatal intensive care unit-Parental Beliefs Scale scores were not correlated (p > .05). Neonatal intensive care unit-Parental Beliefs Scale scores were positively associated with maternal age ≥35 years among mothers and with lower birth weight (p = .021), lower gestational age at birth (p = .026), and greater subjective financial well-being (p = .004) among fathers.

CONCLUSION: No significant relationship between parental stress and role belief scores was observed in this study. Maternal age, subjective financial well-being, and infant birth weight and gestational age were factors affecting parental belief scores in the neonatal intensive care unit setting. Family-centered care practices are needed to reduce parents’ stress and strengthen their caregiving role beliefs.

Cite this article as: Demir, E., Aykanat-Girgin, B., & .arık.ı, F. (2026). Parental role beliefs and neonatal intensive care unit–related stress among Turkish parents: A comparative cross-sectional study. Florence Nightingale Journal of Nursing, 34, 0414, doi:10.5152/FNJN.2026.25414.