Examining technology use and mental health among parents with newborns in the intensive care unit during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between pandemic-related stressors, mental health, and technology use among parents of hospitalized infants during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 47 participants who had an infant in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) during the pandemic was completed. Participants ranked several statements on a Likert scale to assess mental health, technology use, and COVID-19-related stress during their infant's stay in the NICU. Results: Mental health wellness scores were negatively associated with COVID-19-related stress (rs − 0.40, p = .015). The most prevalent stressor was hospital visitation restriction. Higher COVID-19-related stress was associated with greater use of text and video chat [(rs 0.35, p = 0.016) and (rs 0.33, p = .025)]. Enjoyment of technology use and access to technology were positively associated with higher mental health wellness scores [(rs 0.42, p = .003) and (rs 0.38, p = .009)]. Conclusions: Social uses of technology were valuable in a cohort of parents with infants hospitalized during the COVID-19 pandemic. Innovation: Technology is a tool that can help parents cope with the stress of having a hospitalized infant. Digital literacy and technology access should be promoted in the post-pandemic landscape to help parents of infants in the NICU attain more benefit from these resources.

Keywords

• COVID-19 pandemic
• Digital literacy
• Mental health
• NICU parents
• Technology use