The association between brain temperament and anxiety in mothers with premature infants hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) based on Persian medicine

Abstract

During the postpartum period, anxiety emerges as a significant health concern for women, particularly among mothers whose infants are born prematurely. According to Persian Medicine, also known as Traditional Iranian Medicine (PM), anxiety disorders are caused by an imbalance in the brain’s temperament. Recent studies have found a strong connection between one's temperament and overall happiness. Our research aims to explore the link between brain temperament and anxiety levels in mothers of premature infants receiving care in NICUs, drawing upon the principles of PM. In this particular study, 105 mothers with premature infants admitted to NICUs were enrolled based on meeting specific inclusion criteria. The assessment utilized both the “State-Trait Anxiety Inventory” and the “Brain Mizaj Temperament Questionnaire.” The results showed that there was a significant difference in the mean scores of state (overt) anxiety (P = 0.009) and trait (hidden) anxiety (P = 0.006) based on the mothers’ brain temperament, and mothers with a hotter brain temperament had higher levels of overt and hidden anxiety. Consequently, the study’s outcomes suggest a correlation between brain temperament and anxiety levels among mothers with preterm infants hospitalized in NICUs.