Introduction

Parents of children receiving hospice care constitute a group particularly vulnerable to chronic psychological stress associated with prolonged emotional burden, caregiving responsibilities, and uncertainty regarding their child’s health condition. Prolonged exposure to such challenging circumstances may be associated impaired sleep quality and an increased risk of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Contemporary research indicates a close relationship between stress, sleep disturbances, and psychological symptoms; however, these relationships still require further investigation, particularly among parents of children requiring palliative care.

Aim of the study was to assess the relationship between perceived stress, sleep quality, and the severity of anxiety and depressive symptoms among parents of children receiving home hospice care.

Material and methods

Standardized psychometric instruments were used, including the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), together with an author-developed sociodemographic questionnaire.

Results

High stress levels were identified in 16.7% of respondents. The mean PSS-10 score was 20.36 points, corresponding to a moderate level of perceived stress. The mean AIS score was 11.14 points, and 58.3% of participants met the criteria for probable insomnia. Anxiety symptoms were present in 50.0% of respondents, while depressive symptoms were reported by 55.5%. Positive associations were found between perceived stress, insomnia symptoms, and anxiety and depressive symptoms. The strongest relationship was observed between stress and depressive symptoms (r = 0.64).

Conclusions

The findings highlight the importance of assessing caregivers’ mental well-being and support the need for further research on interventions aimed at stress reduction and sleep management.