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Sibling visits to a newborn intesive care unit: Implications for siblings, parents, and infants

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Abstract

A randomized controlled study of 38 families with 57 children was conducted to determine prospectively the psychological effects on siblings and their parents of sibling visits to a newborn intensive care unit. Assessment tools included the Missouri Behavior Checklist,1 a Modified Vernon Questionnaire,2 a Family Changes Questionnaire,3 a semi-structured child psychiatry evaluation, and a symptom log for newborn infections. Overall behavior and anxiety did not worsen in either group of children. Child and family functioning improved for both groups (p<.001). Parental well-being was enhanced significantly by the visit (p<.05). None of the study children were upset by the visit and some demonstrated benefit from the experience. The newborn infants who were visited exhibited no increase in symptoms of infection over the control infants.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Cincinnati and Children's Hospital Medical Center and Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, USA

    Jeanne L. Ballard MD (Associate Professor of Pediatrics, and Assistant Professor Obstetrics and Gynecology), Michael Maloney MD (Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Director), Margaret Shank RN (Assistant Head Nurse) & Lauren Hollister (Research Assistant)

  2. Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

    Lauren Hollister (Research Assistant)

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Medical Center and Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH

    Lauren Hollister (Research Assistant)

Authors
  1. Jeanne L. Ballard MD
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  2. Michael Maloney MD
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  3. Margaret Shank RN
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  4. Lauren Hollister
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Additional information

Division of Child Psychiatry

Regional Newborn Intensive Care Unit

Supported in part by USPHS MCH ODH 137 CHD Maternal and Infant Care Project.

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Ballard, J.L., Maloney, M., Shank, M. et al. Sibling visits to a newborn intesive care unit: Implications for siblings, parents, and infants. Child Psych Hum Dev 14, 203–214 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00706034

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00706034

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