Parenting Stress in Turkish Mothers of Infants With Cleft Lip and/or Palate

Cleft Palate Craniofac J. 2020 Jun;57(6):753-761. doi: 10.1177/1055665619898592. Epub 2020 Jan 17.

Abstract

Objective: To explore parenting stress and factors affecting the mothers of infants with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) in Turkey.

Design and participants: The study compared mothers of infants born with CL/P (n = 90) with mothers of healthy infants (n = 90). Mothers completed the data collection form, the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support.

Results: Mothers of infants born with CL/P had higher mean parenting stress scores than the control mothers. A significant negative relationship was found between social support and parenting stress for mothers of infants born with CL/P but was not related for control mothers. Among mothers with an infant with CL/P, the mean parenting stress scores were higher for mothers preoperatively than mothers responding postoperatively. Among mothers with an infant with a cleft, higher stress was found for diagnosis after birth, not breastfeeding, feeding difficulties, lack of fathers' support, perceived difficult infant temperament, blame, anger, and concern for the future.

Conclusion: Parenting stress was higher and social support was lower for mothers of infants with a cleft. Treatment teams can design interventions aimed at factors related to stress, such as addressing feeding issues, teaching coping skills, and linking to social support.

Keywords: cleft lip; cleft palate; infant; paediatric nursing; parenting stress.

MeSH terms

  • Cleft Lip*
  • Cleft Palate*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Mothers
  • Parenting
  • Turkey