Peer Support Groups for Families With an Infant in the NICU

The goal of this observational study is to learn the impact of race, ethnicity, and language matched peer support groups on parental stress, anxiety, and sense of belonging for families who have or have had an infant hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The main questions aim to answer: Do race, ethnicity, and language matched peer support groups decrease parental stress and anxiety and improve sense of belonging of parents while their baby is hospitalized in the NICU? And, are there any changes that should be made to the format of the peer support group sessions? Participants will be invited to attend a peer support group that is matched for race, ethnicity, and language. Participants will have the option of filling out a survey on stress, anxiety, and sense of belonging before and after the peer group session. Additionally, participants will have the option of filling out a satisfaction survey after the peer group session.

The study will be observational research wherein participants who want to attend a peer support group, will have the option of filling out surveys before and after peer support group attendance. Surveys are voluntary and the only way of assessing the behavioral outcome (impact on parental stress, anxiety, and sense of belonging); families can attend the peer support groups even if the family member does not want to participate in the survey.