Predictors of Psychological Distress in Mothers of 2 Years Old Very Preterm Children and Term Controls.

Laura Montelisciani ¹ Domenico Di Lallo ² Franca Rusconi ³ Valeria Chiandotto ⁴ Mariacristina Fertz ⁵ Silvana Miniaci ⁶ Marina Cuttini ¹ Fabio Voller ⁷

¹Clinical Care and Management Innovation Research Area, Pediatric Hospital Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
²Hospital Network Planning and Research Area, Lazio Regional Health Authority, Rome, Italy
³Unit of Epidemiology, Meyer Children’s University Hospital, Florence, Italy
⁴Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, S. Maria della Misericordia University Hospital, Udine, Italy
⁵Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Burlo Garofolo Maternal and Child Hospital, IRCCS, Trieste, Italy
⁶Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Pugliese-Ciaccio Hospital, Catanzaro, Italy
⁷Unit of Epidemiology, Regional Health Agency of Tuscany, Florence, Italy

Background: Maternal psychological distress is linked to adverse mother and child outcomes.

Objective: explore factors associated with psychological distress in mothers of very preterm (VP) 2 years-old children and term-born controls.

Methods: the ACTION follow-up study included all VP infants (

Results: The frequency of maternal distress was 29.6%, with no significant difference by gestational age. In multivariable analysis, both maternal (poor general health and number -from 1 to 3 or more- of negative events occurred since child birth) and child variables (eating and sleeping problems, sensory and/or motor disability) were significantly associated with maternal distress. The impact of child disability however was modified by gestational age, with statistically significant aRR only in control group (aRR 1.64, 95%CI 1.18-2.28).

Conclusions: The frequency of maternal distress at two years from birth was almost 30%, but mothers of VP infants did not show increased risk.

Acknowledgements: this study received support by the Research Program of the Italian Ministry of Health, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.a and the European Commission (Grant n. 733280).