Balancing work and family after a NICU stay
Official title: Juggling Roles: A Study of Diverse Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Parents and Their Work-Family Transition
Funded at Women and Infants Hospital-Rhode Island · NIH-11194267 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project follows parents of very preterm infants to understand how they manage returning to work and caring for their baby, with special attention to Black and low-income families.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Women and Infants Hospital-Rhode Island NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $437,453 |
| NIH project number | 5DP5OD037403-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11194267 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are parents of very preterm infants (born before 32 weeks gestation) whose baby is receiving care in the NICU, particularly Black or low-income parents facing work-family conflicts.
✕Less likely to help
Parents of full-term infants or families without work-related conflicts around the NICU period are unlikely to be directly affected by this project.
What this research studies
You would be asked to share information about your work schedule, caregiving activities, supports, and mental health while your baby is in the NICU. The team will collect data using surveys, interviews, and medical record information and will follow families over time to track infant development and parent well-being. Researchers will compare experiences across racial and socioeconomic groups to identify practical barriers and supports that affect parent involvement. The goal is to point to changes in hospital practices or policies that make it easier for parents to be involved in their baby’s care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to NICU policies and supports that help parents—especially Black and low-income families—spend more time with their preterm infant and improve developmental and mental health outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies show parent involvement benefits infant development, but focusing on work-family transitions and racial/economic disparities in diverse NICU parents is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Women and Infants Hospital-Rhode Island
Providence, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Craft, Alexandrea L. — Women and Infants Hospital-Rhode Island
- Study coordinator: Craft, Alexandrea L.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Juggling Work and Family for Parents of Very Preterm Babies
A study to understand how work and family demands affect parents of very preterm infants and how this shapes their ability to support their baby’s development.
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Exploring the challenges faced by parents of premature infants in balancing work and family life
This study is looking at how parents of premature babies in the NICU manage their work and family life, especially focusing on the challenges faced by diverse families, like those from Black and low-income backgrounds, to help improve support for them and their babies.
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Phthalate Exposure and How It Affects Newborns in the NICU
This grant looks at how chemicals called phthalates in the NICU environment may affect the health and development of newborns, especially those born prematurely.
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Improving care for opioid use disorder in the ICU
This project helps hospital staff in intensive care units provide better care for patients with opioid use disorder.
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Implementing SDOH screening and referrals in the NICU to support fragile newborns
A NICU-based program to screen newborns and families for social needs and connect them to services that can improve health and development.
-
Attenuating Depression with Internet CBT to Slow Cognitive Decline in Older ICU Survivors
A new online cognitive behavioral therapy program is being tested to help older ICU survivors who are experiencing depressive symptoms and may be at risk for cognitive decline.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.