Pregnancy Complications
Infant- and Family-Centered Developmental Care
Respiratory Infections
Neonatal Eye Health
Hygiene
Rare Diseases
The birth of a preterm infant can deeply affect parents’ well-being. Parents often face emotional stress, uncertainty, and demanding caregiving responsibilities, especially during hospitalization. Understanding parental quality of life is important because it influences both family well-being and child development. This study is a systematic review and meta-analysis including 34 studies with over 6,600 parents of preterm infants and more than 8,000 parents of full-term infants. Overall, the study found that parental quality of life is lowest during neonatal intensive care unit hospitalization but tends to improve over time.
Caring for a preterm infant can be overwhelming, especially during the early days after birth. Parents may experience stress, anxiety, and physical exhaustion while adapting to the neonatal intensive care environment. This can affect their overall well-being and daily functioning. In this context, parental quality of life becomes an important part of preterm infant care.
This study reviewed and combined results from different types of research, including observational studies and clinical trials. It focused on how parents feel and function across physical, emotional, and social aspects of life. The goal was to better understand what influences parental well-being and how it changes over time.
The findings show that parental quality of life is lowest during the infant’s hospital stay. Parents reported challenges across multiple areas, including emotional well-being, physical health, and social relationships. Mothers tend to report lower well-being early on, likely linked to postpartum recovery, higher emotional stress, and greater involvement in early caregiving, while differences between parents decrease later.
Over time, many parents experienced improvements, especially after discharge from the hospital. Importantly, the difference in quality of life between parents of preterm and full-term infants was most noticeable early on and tended to decrease later.
Additional results showed that the degree of prematurity did not always predict parental quality of life in a simple way. While parents of extremely preterm infants often reported lower well-being during hospitalization, their quality of life also improved significantly after discharge. The study also found that parents’ experiences varied widely depending on timing, context, and personal circumstances.
The study highlights several factors that can improve parental quality of life. These include emotional support, clear communication from healthcare teams, and helping parents feel prepared and confident in caring for their infant. Social support from family, peers, and healthcare professionals also plays a key role. Addressing stress, sleep challenges, and financial strain can further support families during this time.
The findings are consistent with broader research showing that parental mental health and support systems are closely linked to both family well-being and child development. Strengthening family-centered care and targeted support remains an important focus in improving outcomes for parents and their children.
Author Information
Paper available at: Quality of Life of Parents of Premature Infants: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis | Pediatrics | JAMA Network Open | JAMA Network
Full list of authors: Yip, S.A.S.E.; Lim, Q.Z.X.; Kong, G.; Amin, Z.; Ng, Y.P.M.
DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.53712
GFCNI is the first global organization and network to unite patients, families, healthcare professionals,
medical staff, and scientists from different disciplines, fields,
and countries – all with the joint goal of advancing the health and quality of care for newborns and their families across the globe.
GFCNI is a non-profit organization established under German public law. Tax Reference Number: 143/235/22619
© 2026 GFCNI. All Rights Reserved.
