Effect of emotional intelligence skills training on the stress of mothers with premature infants hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit: A quasi-experimental study

Mothers of premature infants experience high levels of stress, and emotional intelligence skills are helpful for stress management. This study aimed to determine the effect of emotional intelligence skills training on the stress of mothers with premature infants hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit. This quasi-experimental study with a control group pretest-posttest design was conducted on mothers of premature infants in Shiraz, Iran. The research sample consisted of ۹۰ mothers of premature infants, who were selected conveniently. Emotional intelligence training was provided to the intervention group in six ۹۰-minute sessions. The control group received no intervention. A posttest was conducted for both intervention and control groups one week after the completion of the sessions. The data collection tool in this study was the Parental Stressor Scale: neonatal intensive care units (PSS: NICU). The pretest mean anxiety score in the intervention group (۴۸.۸۹ [standard deviations (SDs)=۱۹.۰۲]) was higher than that in the control group (۴۴.۹۲ [SD=۱۸.۵۵]), but this difference was not statistically significant. The posttest mean anxiety score in the intervention group (۱۳.۲۹ [SD=۱۳.۱۵]) showed a statistically significant decrease compared to that in the control group (۴۷.۸۴ [SD=۲۲.۵۶]) (P=۰.۰۵۰, t=۰.۰۰۱). The results showed that emotional intelligence training had a significant impact on the stress levels of mothers caring for premature infants. To reduce anxiety in mothers of premature infants, experienced clinical nurses and counselors should deliver emotional intelligence training.

کلیدواژه ها:

Emotional intelligence ، Stress ، Mothers ، Premature Infants ، neonatal ، Intensive Care Unit ، Nursing ، nursing care ، Nurses