Objectives: The birth of a baby brings joy and the need for new family roles. However, few    babies typically fail in their graceful perinatal transition requiring separation from parents in NICU   leading to stressful situations. This study aimed to identify, correlate, and compare the stress levels  and coping strategies of mothers and fathers with neonates in the NICU.  Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 80 parents of NICUadmitted neonates, using purposive sampling. Data were collected through self-structured rating   scales. Statistical analysis was performed using Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficients, MannWhitney U-test, and Chi-square test, with normality established by the Shapiro-Wilk test.   Results: The findings revealed that the majority of mothers (45.0%) and fathers (47.5%)  were aged 26-30 years. Most mothers (72.5%) and fathers (65.0%) experienced moderate stress. A significant number of mothers (67.5%) and fathers (52.5%) used partially adaptive coping
strategies. Both mothers and fathers exhibited high stress and coping strategies in the emotional  domain. The Spearman’s correlation coefficient was r= -0.33 for mothers and r= -0.47 for fathers,  indicating a moderate negative correlation between stress levels and coping strategies. No   significant difference was found in stress levels between mothers and fathers (Z=-.516, P=0.606),
but a significant difference was noted in their coping strategies (Z=-2.348, P=0.019). Significant  associations were found between stress, coping strategies, and socio-demographic variables such   as mode of delivery (χ²=7.73, P=0.02), fathers’ employment status (χ²=15.3, P=0.01), neonates’  medical diagnosis (χ²=13.4, P=0.03), and length of stay in the NICU (χ²=11.3, P=0.02).  Conclusion: While no significant gender difference was found in stress levels, fathers showed   better coping strategies. Since stress is negatively correlated with coping, it suggests that healthcare  professionals’ support can reduce parental stress and improve coping.