Studying Stress and Interaction Between Parents and Preterm Infants Born at 30 to 34 Weeks in the NICU

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying families of preterm infants born between gestational weeks 300 and 346 to understand how stress affects infants developing brains and the role of parent-infant interaction in managing stress. The study focuses on biological co-regulation of stress markers like cortisol and alpha-amylase, and social-emotional interactions between the infant and both parents during a critical sensitive period. This observational study aims to fill gaps in knowledge about stress markers and parent-infant synchrony in the neonatal intensive care unit NICU. The study involves 35 families participating in three diaper change procedures in the NICU, with both parents present. Two diaper changes will be done by the mother and one by the father, all video-recorded to analyze parent-infant interaction. Saliva samples will be collected from infants and both parents before and after each procedure to measure co-regulation of cortisol and alpha-amylase. Follow-up assessments include questionnaires about the childs behavior and development at 6 and 12 months corrected age. Participants will be involved in multiple video-recorded procedures in the NICU and provide saliva samples to study stress hormone patterns and parent-infant interaction. Researchers will analyze videos using validated scales to assess emotional availability and synchrony between parents and infant. Additional measures include infant temperament, development, communicative skills, and language abilities at follow-ups. The study will provide important insights needed to design nursing interventions to reduce stress effects in preterm infants.

Co-regulation and Interaction in the NICU