Examining the association between child development and parental mental health after preterm birth-related stress: a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis protocol

Introduction Preterm infants born before 32 weeks of gestation are generally admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to receive life-saving treatment, resulting in early exposure to stressful events. Yet, NICU admission is not only stressful for the infant but can also have a long-lasting...

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Main Authors: Lotte Haverman, Cornelieke S H Aarnoudse-Moens, Joost G Daams, Gerbrich E van den Bosch, Kirsten S Muller, Celina E Henke
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2025-02-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/2/e089460.full
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author Lotte Haverman
Cornelieke S H Aarnoudse-Moens
Joost G Daams
Gerbrich E van den Bosch
Kirsten S Muller
Celina E Henke
author_facet Lotte Haverman
Cornelieke S H Aarnoudse-Moens
Joost G Daams
Gerbrich E van den Bosch
Kirsten S Muller
Celina E Henke
author_sort Lotte Haverman
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Preterm infants born before 32 weeks of gestation are generally admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to receive life-saving treatment, resulting in early exposure to stressful events. Yet, NICU admission is not only stressful for the infant but can also have a long-lasting negative impact on parental mental health, who may worry about their child. Parental mental health problems might affect child development through parental behaviour and the parent–infant relationship. Simultaneously, adverse child development after preterm birth can (further) elevate parental stress and mental health problems, straining parental behaviour, the parent–infant relationship and child development. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to examine the association between preterm-born children’s development (<32 weeks’ gestation) and parental mental health after preterm birth-related stress following NICU admission at any point in time.Methods and analysis A systematic review will be performed and reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A concept-based search on preterm birth, child development and parental mental health is performed using MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO and Cochrane Library on 22 March 2024. Eligible are studies with original results on the association between child development after preterm birth (<32 weeks’ gestation) and parental mental health. Independent reviewers will screen the articles, assess study quality using a Newcastle-Ottawa or Cochrane tool and determine the quality of evidence using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation. Meta-analyses are planned on the association between child development and parental mental health after preterm birth.Ethics and dissemination No ethical approval is required. The results will enhance knowledge of the association between child development and parental mental health after preterm birth-related stress following NICU admission. This might lead to adjustments in follow-up care, optimising outcomes for infants and parents. Findings will be published in an international, peer-reviewed ad open-access journal.PROSPERO registration number CRD42024518307.
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spelling doaj-art-9dff5f45982843c3a29e05ce4f25d0162025-02-06T02:40:09ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552025-02-0115210.1136/bmjopen-2024-089460Examining the association between child development and parental mental health after preterm birth-related stress: a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis protocolLotte Haverman0Cornelieke S H Aarnoudse-Moens1Joost G Daams2Gerbrich E van den Bosch3Kirsten S Muller4Celina E Henke5Emma Children’s Hospital, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry & Psychosocial Care, Amsterdam UMC Location AMC, Amsterdam, The NetherlandsEmma Children’s Hospital, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry & Psychosocial Care, Amsterdam UMC Location AMC, Amsterdam, The NetherlandsMedical Library, Amsterdam UMC Location AMC, Amsterdam, The NetherlandsDepartment of Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care, Division of Neonatology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children`s Hospital, Rotterdam, The NetherlandsEmma Children’s Hospital, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry & Psychosocial Care, Amsterdam UMC Location AMC, Amsterdam, The NetherlandsEmma Children’s Hospital, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry & Psychosocial Care, Amsterdam UMC Location AMC, Amsterdam, The NetherlandsIntroduction Preterm infants born before 32 weeks of gestation are generally admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to receive life-saving treatment, resulting in early exposure to stressful events. Yet, NICU admission is not only stressful for the infant but can also have a long-lasting negative impact on parental mental health, who may worry about their child. Parental mental health problems might affect child development through parental behaviour and the parent–infant relationship. Simultaneously, adverse child development after preterm birth can (further) elevate parental stress and mental health problems, straining parental behaviour, the parent–infant relationship and child development. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to examine the association between preterm-born children’s development (<32 weeks’ gestation) and parental mental health after preterm birth-related stress following NICU admission at any point in time.Methods and analysis A systematic review will be performed and reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A concept-based search on preterm birth, child development and parental mental health is performed using MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO and Cochrane Library on 22 March 2024. Eligible are studies with original results on the association between child development after preterm birth (<32 weeks’ gestation) and parental mental health. Independent reviewers will screen the articles, assess study quality using a Newcastle-Ottawa or Cochrane tool and determine the quality of evidence using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation. Meta-analyses are planned on the association between child development and parental mental health after preterm birth.Ethics and dissemination No ethical approval is required. The results will enhance knowledge of the association between child development and parental mental health after preterm birth-related stress following NICU admission. This might lead to adjustments in follow-up care, optimising outcomes for infants and parents. Findings will be published in an international, peer-reviewed ad open-access journal.PROSPERO registration number CRD42024518307.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/2/e089460.full
spellingShingle Lotte Haverman
Cornelieke S H Aarnoudse-Moens
Joost G Daams
Gerbrich E van den Bosch
Kirsten S Muller
Celina E Henke
Examining the association between child development and parental mental health after preterm birth-related stress: a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis protocol
BMJ Open
title Examining the association between child development and parental mental health after preterm birth-related stress: a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis protocol
title_full Examining the association between child development and parental mental health after preterm birth-related stress: a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis protocol
title_fullStr Examining the association between child development and parental mental health after preterm birth-related stress: a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis protocol
title_full_unstemmed Examining the association between child development and parental mental health after preterm birth-related stress: a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis protocol
title_short Examining the association between child development and parental mental health after preterm birth-related stress: a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis protocol
title_sort examining the association between child development and parental mental health after preterm birth related stress a systematic review of the literature and meta analysis protocol
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/2/e089460.full
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