Family resiliency and family functioning in Non-Hispanic Black and Non-Hispanic White families of preterm infants

Karen S Gralton; Jennifer Doering; Emmanuel Ngui; Amy Pan; Rachel Schiffman

doi:10.1016/j.pedn.2022.02.010

Family resiliency and family functioning in Non-Hispanic Black and Non-Hispanic White families of preterm infants

J Pediatr Nurs. 2022 May-Jun:64:102-110. doi: 10.1016/j.pedn.2022.02.010. Epub 2022 Mar 3.

Authors

Karen S Gralton¹, Jennifer Doering², Emmanuel Ngui³, Amy Pan⁴, Rachel Schiffman²

Affiliations

¹ Children's Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA. Electronic address: kgralton@chw.org.
² College of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
³ School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
⁴ Medical College of Wisconsin, WI, USA.

PMID: 35248955
DOI: 10.1016/j.pedn.2022.02.010

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between resiliency factors and family functioning in families of preterm infants (< 37 weeks gestation) from two different racial groups hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Design and methods: A cross-sectional design was used at five Level III/IV NICUs in a Midwestern city/suburbs. Seventy-nine family units (24 Non-Hispanic Black and 55 Non-Hispanic White) completed four instruments that assessed families' use of specific resiliency factors and a measure of family functioning. Demographic data were also collected.

Results: Using linear mixed modeling, the significant predictors of family functioning for both Non-Hispanic Black and Non-Hispanic White, even after adjusting for education, income and race, were the protective factors "hardiness" (coefficient = -0.021) and "resources" (coefficient = -0.0052). The fixed effects in the model accounted for 48% (Marginal R² = 0.48) of the variance on family functioning and the fixed and random effects accounted for 59% (Conditional R^2, 0.59) of the variance on family functioning. Sixteen percent of the total sample rated their family as dysfunctional.

Conclusions: Findings from this study suggest that assessment of protective factors related to hardiness and resources individualize nursing interventions to support the resiliency of both Non-Hispanic Black and Non-Hispanic White families, regardless of differences in income and education. Further research studying resiliency in families of preterm infants is needed to understand the impact on long-term family functioning.

Practice implications: Understandingindividual family strengths,through the identification of resiliency (protective and recovery) factors could predict at-risk families before discharge. In collaboration with other health care professionals, nurses can assess individual family needs and strengths, within the context of their socioeconomic environment, and the racial and cultural influences that are important to the family.

Keywords: Family functioning; Family resiliency; Preterm infant; Protective factors; Recovery factors.

MeSH terms

Cross-Sectional Studies
Ethnicity*
Gestational Age
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature*
Intensive Care Units, Neonatal