Journal of health research in community

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Heydarzadeh F, Razaghi N, Sadat-Hoseini A. The Relationship Between Caregiver Burden, Fatigue, and Sleep Quality in Mothers of Preterm Infants Hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. , J Health Res Commun. 2026; 12 (2) :113-128
URL: http://jhc.mazums.ac.ir/article-1-1183-en.html

Introduction and Purpose: Identifying the determinants of caregiving burden in mothers of preterm infants hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is crucial for developing targeted psychological and supportive nursing interventions. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between caregiving burden, fatigue, and sleep quality among mothers of preterm infants admitted to the NICU over a one year period in 2024.
Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional correlational study was conducted among 123 mothers recruited through convenience sampling from the neonatal intensive care units of teaching hospitals affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The mothers completed a demographic information checklist, the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), the Piper Fatigue scale (PFS), and the Elmesta Caregiver Burden questionnaire through self-report. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation, regression, and independent-samples t tests. Analyses were performed using SPSS, with the significance level set at less than 0.05.
Results: The mean sleep quality score was 10.639±5.302, indicating poor sleep quality. The mean caregiver burden score was 57.195±13.441, and the mean fatigue score was 39.252±11.410, indicating moderate caregiver burden and high levels of fatigue among the mothers studied. Sleep quality scores were significantly associated with caregiver burden (P<0.001). Fatigue was also significantly associated with both caregiver burden and sleep quality (P<0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that fatigue (odds ratio: 13.7) and sleep quality (odds ratio: 8.6) significantly predicted mothers’ perceived caregiver burden. 
Conclusion: Addressing fatigue management and improving mothers’ sleep quality simultaneously is essential—not only as independent care goals, but also as an effective strategy for reducing caregiver burden. It is recommended that resources be made available to design and implement support programs and nursing interventions in neonatal intensive care units, focusing on improving mothers’ sleep patterns and reducing their fatigue.