Current Status and Influencing Factors of Parental Anxiety in Children with Sepsis

HUO Beibei; CHANG Huijuan; YU Yingying; LI Yuanzhe

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1004-437X.2026.07.006

Abstract：Objective To analyze the current status and influencing factors of parental anxiety in children with sepsis.Methods A convenience sampling method was used to enroll 155 parents of children with sepsis admitted to the Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University from June 2023 to June 2024.The self-rating anxiety scale(SAS)was employed to assess parental anxiety levels,while demographic data and disease-related information were collected.Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were conducted to explore the prevalence and influencing factors of parental anxiety.Results A total of 149 valid samples were collected,with an effective response rate of 96.13％.Among the 149 parents of pediatric patients,123 exhibited anxiety,representing an anxiety incidence rate of 82.55％.Specifically,62 parents were mildly anxious,39 moderately anxious,and 22 severely anxious.Univariate analysis revealed that factors such as parents' gender,education level,occupation,monthly household income,severity of the child's illness,and payment method were associated with parents' anxiety levels(P＜0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that maternal gender,severity of the child's condition,and paying out-of-pocket were risk factors for anxiety among parents of children with sepsis(P＜0.05),while a master's degree or higher education level was a protective factor against anxiety among parents of children with sepsis(P＜0.05).Conclusion Anxiety is prevalent among parents of children with sepsis,with severity influenced by multiple factors.Healthcare professionals should prioritize psychological support for parents and implement targeted interventions to alleviate anxiety,thereby promoting pediatric recovery.