Investigating factors associated with PTSD and the perceived utility of journaling in parents of critically ill children

Journaling has been associated with improved psychological recovery in adult intensive care unit patients and lower levels of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. Its potential role in supporting parents of children in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) remains underexplored. The goals of this study were to determine factors that may make parents more prone to screening positive for PTSD, and to assess the potential role of journaling in supporting parental psychological well-being. This study included retrospective chart reviews and follow-up phone interviews with 32 parents of children admitted to the PICU at least 60 days following their stay. Participants completed a PCL-5 PTSD screening, provided demographic data, and shared journaling habits. Associations between PTSD screening results, demographics, use of journaling, and child healthcare factors were analyzed. 43.7% of parents screened positive for PTSD, significantly higher than the prevalence of PTSD in the general U.S. population (6.8%). A significant link was found between positive PTSD screenings and the number of surgeries a child underwent (p = 0.0413). This study highlights the heightened prevalence of positive PTSD screenings among parents of children in the PICU and indicates that journaling is a well-received tool for supporting parents’ psychological well-being.