Abstract

VICENTE, Schwanny Roberta et al. Emotional impact and maternal coping of congenital anomaly of babies in the nic. Psic., Saúde & Doenças [online]. 2016, vol.17, n.3, pp.454-467. ISSN 1645-0086.  https://doi.org/10.15309/16psd170312.

The birth of a baby diagnosed as having congenital anomalies (CA) usually produces the parents' stress and suffering resulting from the idealization of a healthy baby. The objective of this research was to analyze parental emotional indicators after the CA diagnosis and ways of coping related to context of hospitalization. The participants were10 mothers whose babies were admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) of two hospitals of Vitória, in the state of Espírito Santo. Sociodemographic and economic data questionnaires were applied to characterize the sample. To analyze the variables, the Lipp's Inventory of Stress Symptoms for Adults (ISSL), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Depression (BDI), and the Brazilian version of the Ways of Coping Checklist were applied. The entire group was experiencing some degree of symptoms of stress and anxiety, and the majority (n = 8) also had symptoms of depression, indicating that the diagnosis of CA is a potential stressor for maternal psychological distress. Regarding the coping checklist, the results indicated that the most frequent ways of coping were: Search of Religious Practices and Problem-Focused Coping. We highlight the need for mothers' interventions during hospitalization to reduce the negative emotional impact of the CA's diagnosis, which can compromise the establishment of the initial attachment of the dyad. We emphasize the importance of studies on the coping to support this type of intervention.

Keywords : Coping; Psychological Stress; Depression; Anxiety; Mothers; Congenital Anomaly.

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