WIP 94 - JRs Pilot study – Juggling Roles in the NICU: A study of conflicting work-family demands

Poster Number: WIP 94
Publication Number: WIP 94.708

Background: Infants born preterm are at a heightened risk for developing neuromotor, cognitive, and psychiatric disorders. Existent research also indicates that preterm infants of color have worse neurodevelopmental outcomes compared to White infants. Further, preterm birth rates are almost 50% higher for Black women compared to White and Hispanic women. The overall high prevalence of prematurity, coupled with Black families’ increased risk, is a serious public health concern. However, the mechanisms contributing to these disparities is largely unexplored.

The transition to parenthood (TTP) for families of preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is complicated by the physical parent-infant separation. Parental involvement in the NICU is key for infant neurodevelopment. Yet we know little about the external factors that impede parent involvement. A significant barrier to NICU involvement may be conflicting work and family demands. >62% of families with children include two working parents. For low income families in particular, the transition to parenthood is often eclipsed by parents’ subsequent transition back to paid work (as soon as 4 weeks after childbirth) which has implications for NICU involvement. Regrettably there is virtually no research on NICU parents TTP from a work-family lens.

Objective: Examine how work factors and NICU involvement are related to infant neurodevelopment.

Design/Methods: We will recruit 50 diverse NICU families (infants < 34 weeks’ GA). Data collection: 1) 1-month postnatal, 2) two 7-day NICU EMA, and 3) NICU discharge. At each time, caregivers will complete redcap or daily EMA surveys on dimensions of work and NICU involvement. Infant neurobehavior will be accessed by the NeoNatal Neurobehavioral Scale (NNNS) at NICU discharge. Data analysis will be a series of linear regressions (2/2024). We hypothesize that caregivers experiencing ideal work policies (e.g., shorter work hours and more paid leave, job flexibility, and job autonomy) will be more involved in the NICU and their infants will have better neurodevelopmental outcomes.