CONSTRUCTION OF PARENTHOOD IN THE NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT: THE PSYCHOLOGIST AS A MEDIATOR OF THE PARENT–INFANT BOND

Abstract

Preterm birth and the resulting hospitalization in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) constitute potentially stressful experiences that affect the development of the parent–infant bond and the exercise of parenthood. This study aimed to analyze, through a narrative literature review, how the role of psychologists in the NICU has been described as mediating the construction of parenthood and strengthening the parent–infant bond. A bibliographic search was conducted in scientific databases, including studies published in Portuguese between 2020 and 2025. The interpretative analysis resulted in three categories: psychosocial conditions for bond formation in the NICU; psychological repercussions of hospitalization on parenthood; and the psychologist’s role as a mediator between psychological distress, the healthcare team, and the parent–infant bond. The reviewed studies indicate that the construction of parenthood depends not only on the newborn’s clinical condition but also on the quality of interactions established within the hospital environment and on parents’ opportunities to participate in their infant’s care. In this context, psychologists play a key role by providing qualified listening, emotional support, facilitating communication between families and the healthcare team, and encouraging parent–infant interaction, thereby contributing to the humanization of neonatal care and to the development of more secure affective bonds.