The effect of supporting and enhancing NICU sensory experiences (SENSE®) program on maternal stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms among mothers: A quasi-experimental study

Objectives This study was conducted to determine the effect of the SENSE® program applied to preterm infants during their stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) on maternal stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms among mothers. Methods This quasi-experimental pre-post study included 21 mother-infant pairs in the SENSE® group and 25 in the control group. The data collection instruments used were the Demographic Information Form, the Parental Stress Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (PSS: NICU), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Results The mean total PSS: NICU score of the experimental group in the pos t -test was found to be statistically significantly lower than that of the control group ( p = 0.039; p < 0.05). The mean STAI score of the experimental group in the pos t -test was found to be statistically significantly lower than that of the control group ( p = 0.020; p < 0.05). The mean EPDS score of the experimental group in the post-test was found to be statistically significantly lower than that of the control group ( p = 0.019; p < 0.05). Conclusion This study found lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depression in the experimental group. These findings suggest that participation in the SENSE® program may be associated with improved psychological well-being among mothers of preterm infants; however, given the quasi-experimental design and baseline differences between groups, a causal effect cannot be established. Implications for clinical practice Integrating the SENSE® program into NICU care may be associated with reduced maternal stress, anxiety, and depression. Trial registration www.clinicaltrials.gov (Identifier: NCT06354517 ).