Qiong Wang1, Weihua Xu2, Longfei Ren1, Wenhao Wang1, Yang Wang3. 1. Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No. 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New District, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, PR China. 2. Department of Family Development, Health and Family Planning Commission of Shenyang Municipality, No. 13 Beiqi Road, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, PR China. 3. Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No. 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New District, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, PR China. Electronic address: yangwang@cmu.edu.cn.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Parents who lost their only child and can not conceive another child, are known as shidu parents in China. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and examine the mediating role of perceived stress between hope and PTSD symptoms in Chinese shidu parents. METHODS: 295 shidu mothers and 197 shidu fathers were recruited in Shenyang city. Shidu parents were asked to complete a questionnaire including the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), the Herth hope index (HHI) and the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10). Hierarchical linear regression was performed to assess the associations among hope, perceived stress and PTSD symptoms. Asymptotic and resampling strategies were used to explore the mediating role of perceived stress. RESULTS: The prevalence of PTSD in Chinese shidu parents was 23.78%. Mothers were more likely to develop PTSD than fathers. For shidu fathers, the proportion of mediation of perceived stress was 39.48%. For shidu mothers, the proportion of mediation of perceived stress was 40.00%. LIMITATIONS: Due to the cross-sectional design, the findings of the present study can not be used to establish formal causal relationships or to determine the direction of causality. Longitudinal studies are need to validate our findings. CONCLUSIONS: Perceived stress partly mediated the relationship between hope and PTSD symptoms in Chinese shidu parents. The interventions of hope and perceived stress should be included in PTSD prevention. More assistance should be directed to improve the mental health of shidu mothers.
BACKGROUND: Parents who lost their only child and can not conceive another child, are known as shidu parents in China. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and examine the mediating role of perceived stress between hope and PTSD symptoms in Chinese shidu parents. METHODS: 295 shidu mothers and 197 shidu fathers were recruited in Shenyang city. Shidu parents were asked to complete a questionnaire including the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), the Herth hope index (HHI) and the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10). Hierarchical linear regression was performed to assess the associations among hope, perceived stress and PTSD symptoms. Asymptotic and resampling strategies were used to explore the mediating role of perceived stress. RESULTS: The prevalence of PTSD in Chinese shidu parents was 23.78%. Mothers were more likely to develop PTSD than fathers. For shidu fathers, the proportion of mediation of perceived stress was 39.48%. For shidu mothers, the proportion of mediation of perceived stress was 40.00%. LIMITATIONS: Due to the cross-sectional design, the findings of the present study can not be used to establish formal causal relationships or to determine the direction of causality. Longitudinal studies are need to validate our findings. CONCLUSIONS: Perceived stress partly mediated the relationship between hope and PTSD symptoms in Chinese shidu parents. The interventions of hope and perceived stress should be included in PTSD prevention. More assistance should be directed to improve the mental health of shidu mothers.