title: Comparison of anticipatory grief reaction between fathers and mothers of premature infants in neonatal intensive care unit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Premature birth of neonates leads to anticipatory grief (AG) reaction in parents and make them vulnerable to mental health disorders. The present study aimed to determine and compare the AG reaction in mothers and fathers of premature infants hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  This comparative descriptive design was conducted among 40 pairs of mothers and fathers selected by convenience sampling method. The study was performed in 2011 using the Anticipatory Grief Scale. Data were analysed with 'Wilcoxon ranks test' using SPSS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The AG mean scores of fathers and mothers were 1.55 ± 0.55 and 1.68 ± 0.63, respectively. The Wilcoxon test did not show any statistically significant difference between mothers' and fathers' AG reaction (p = 0.12).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite expectations, the AG reaction in mothers and fathers showed no difference in this study. It seems necessary to pay more attention to the fathers in addition to mothers to be supported and consulted by the healthcare providers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Family Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tabriz university of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Valizadeh
authors.forename: Vahid
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zamanzadeh
authors.forename: Elaheh
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rahiminia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology*; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: NICU, parents, preterm infant; fathers; grief; mothers; neonatal intensive care unit