Factors predicting parental burnout in parents of neonates with hyperbilirubinemia

Pages: 402-405
Simplejit Kaur Dhanoa (Department of Psychology, Chandigarh University, Gharuan, Punjab)

Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in the newborn is a familiar reason for hospital readmission during the initial week of postnatal life. Because of elevated amount of stress experienced due to nurturing a child, the caregivers may experience parental burnout (Crinc et al., 2002; Duygun & Sezgin, 2003; Freudenberger & North, 1986). These enduring demands deplete the energy and motivation of the parents and they may experience the emotions of self-blame and anger (Procaccini & Kiefaber, 1983). There is a wide literature about families of children with chronic illness, which have documented adverse effects of the chronically ill child on the family system (Colville & Pierce, 2012). Literature has revealed that not much work has been done on the parents of neonates with hyperbilirubinemia. Hence, this study has been designed to examine the various predictors of parental burnout among the parents of neonates with hyperbilirubinemia. The objective of this study was to examine the factors responsible for parental burnout in the mothers and fathers of male and female neonates with hyperbilirubinemia. The aim of the present investigation was to study the predictors of parental burnout among parents of neonates with hyperbilirubinemia. The sample comprised of 150 mothers and 150 fathers of male and female neonates with hyperbilirubinemia. The standardized tools were used to assess different variables. Based on the findings of the present study, it is clear that mothers and fathers of male and female neonates with hyperbilirubinemia experienced parental burnout. There is a crucial need to develop different coping strategies which respond positively to individual’s changing needs, especially for the parents of neonates admitted in NICU for the treatment of hyperbilirubinemia