Exploring hope in parents of infants discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore levels of hope among parents of infants at the time of NICU discharge and to identify associations with parental, infant, and psychological factors. STUDY DESIGN: In a single-center cross-sectional study (May 2023 to November 2024), parents of infants hospitalized for ≥ 24 h in a tertiary NICU completed the Herth-Hope-Index (HHI-D), the Optimism-Pessimism Short Scale (SOP-2), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) at discharge. Multivariable linear regression examined associations between hope and parental or infant characteristics. RESULTS: In 138 mothers and 89 fathers, median HHI-D scores were similar (44.0). Most had high levels of hope (HHI-D > 36; 92%). Sixty-two percent were optimistic (SOP-2 ≥ 6) and 9% reported moderate to severe depressive symptoms (PHQ-4 ≥ 6). Higher hope was associated with greater optimism and fewer depressive symptoms in both mothers and fathers. CONCLUSION: Identifying and supporting parents with low optimism or depressive symptoms may help maintain hope during transition home.