ObjectiveThe current study aimed to estimate the prevalence of common mental health difficulties
in parents who have an infant with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GORD), and to
identify psychological predictors of parental anxiety, depression, and well-being, as a
platform for subsequent intervention development.MethodsParents of infants with GORD (N= 309) completed online psychometric
measures of potential predictors (self-compassion, illness appraisals, and illness
uncertainty), potential confounders (sleep quality, relationship satisfaction, social
support, and infant feeding satisfaction), and mental health outcomes (anxiety,
depression, and wellbeing). The outcome measures were repeated eight-weeks later
(N= 103).ResultsAt the first time-point, 66% of participants exceed the clinical cut off for
generalised anxiety disorder and 63% exceeded that for a depressive disorder. Both had
significantly reduced eights-weeks later. Greater self-compassion predicted lower
anxiety and depression, and better well-being, in both cross-sectional and longitudinal
data, including when all confounders were controlled for. Illness uncertainty and
illness appraisals were less consistent predictors. No robust differences were found
between parents of infants with silent GORD and those with GORD with visible
regurgitation.ConclusionsParents of infants with GORD showed high rates of anxiety and depression, which were
elevated compared to those that have been found in perinatal and general population
samples. Self-compassion was a consistent predictor of better mental health and has
promise as a proximal intervention target. Future research could benefit from examining
the efficacy of a compassion-focussed intervention in this population.