Correlation of Perceived Nursing Support with Stress and Self‑confidence Among the Mothers of Infants with Congenital Gastrointestinal Anomalies

Background: Hospitalization of infants with congenital anomalies to undergo surgery is extremely stressful for their family members, particularly theirparents. The resultant stress can negatively affect parents’ self‑confidence.Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the correlation of perceivednursing support with stress and self‑confidence among the mothers of infantswith congenital gastrointestinal anomalies. Methods: This correlational studywas conducted in June–November 2015 on 120 mothers whose infants werehospitalized due to congenital gastrointestinal anomalies in the surgical wardof Tabriz teaching children’s hospital, Tabriz, Iran. Data were collected usinga demographic questionnaire, the Nurse Parent Support Tool, the ParentalStress Scale, and the Parenting Confidence Scale. Spearman’s correlation analysis was used to assess the correlation of perceived nursing supportwith stress and self‑confidence. Results: Mothers perceived high levels ofcommunicational‑informational nursing support and low levels of emotionalnursing support. Perceived nursing support had positive correlations withstress (r = 0.22; P = 0.013) and self‑confidence (r = 0.35; P 0.001).Conclusion: Although the mothers of infants with congenital gastrointestinalanomalies receive adequate communicational‑informational nursing support,their perceived emotional nursing support is inadequate. Therefore, neonatalcare nurses need to provide the mothers with comprehensive support and adoptstrategies to alleviate their concern.