References:
Abstract 1:
Premise: In adopting or restructuring behaviors for a new role, new behaviors must be learned along with changes in responsibilities, goals, identity, and feelings about one’s self in general.
Research Questions: How can men who lack the intimate stimuli that the mother experiences develop their father identity? Are there differences between experienced and inexperienced fathers in the transition to the paternal role?
Background: Beneficial mother-child effects occur when the father’s participation in childcare increases. The sensitivity of the mother with the child also increases.
Subjects: The fathers were recruited during the 24th-34th week of their partner’s pregnancy. The study included 79 experienced fathers and 93 inexperienced fathers.
Study Design: The parents’ perceptions of their abilities to meet the situational demand of parenting were measured by the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale. Rosenberg’s scale was used to measure the extent of self-acceptance. Sense of mastery and control of one’s self was measured by a 7-item scale. Partner relationship was measured with Locke and Wallace’s Marital Adjustment Test. Family functioning was measured by the Feetman Family Functioning Instrument. Anxiety was measured by a State Anxiety Scale. Support was measured by an Inventory of Socially Supportive Behaviors.
Findings: The experienced fathers demonstrated a significantly higher mean paternal role competence in the first week postpartum than the inexperienced fathers did. No significant differences were reported at 1, 4, or 8 months postpartum; however, the fathers’ competence sign was higher at 4 and 8 months postpartum. Having a sense of control over their lives and a satisfactory function in their new family within the broader social context were aspects that were more critical to first-time fathers than experienced fathers. Having already dealt with other infants, the experienced fathers felt confident in the father role; however, their predictor of competence was the partner relationship. Among the inexperienced fathers, 24% reported depression, which impacted their perception of competence. By considering the fathers’ goals and feelings and helping them negotiate the social systems to participate in childbearing activities, fathers can be assisted in assuming their new role.
Research reviewed by Cynthia M. Turner, RN, while a student at Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Nursing, in Richmond, VA.
Abstract 2:
Premise: Fathers benefit from direction, opportunities, and support to develop a relationship with their infants.
Research Question:What are first-time fathers’ perceptions of their father-infant relationship, their fathering self, and their infant? How do fathers’ perceptions of their father-infant relationship, their fathering-self, and their infant influence the initial development of the father-infant relationship?
Background: How fathers perceive and comprehend their parenting role, their fathering relationship, and their infants may influence the nature of the father-infant relationship.
Subjects: The study included 14 first-time fathers.
Study Design:An open, exploratory, semi-structured interview using open-ended questions with detailed, elaborate probes and supportive feedback statements. Data were analyzed using the comparative method for this grounded theory study.
Findings: The data were developed and linked into three major categories: a) making a commitment, b) becoming connected, and c) making room for the baby. The fathers experienced a willingness to commit to develop, nurture, protect, and provide for the infant. Fathers were able to become connected to the infants once the fathers were able to receive positive feedback from the infants. Fathers reported that they adjusted their lifestyles in order to be physically and emotionally available to their infants.
Research reviewed by Rita Cooper, RN, while a student at Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Nursing, in Richmond, VA.
Abstract 3:
Premise: Professionals need to support the couple, not just the mother during the prenatal period. They also need to view the father as part of the couple.
Research Questions: What are the fathers’ expectations while their partners labor and give birth? What are the fathers’ experiences while their partners labor and give birth?
Background: The fathers’ presence at the birth of a child increases his interest in the child.
Subjects: In all, 14 fathers participated in this study. Eight primary informants were all white with ages ranging from 30-42 years. They had been married 2-5 years. Six secondary informants ranged in ages from 26-37 years. They had been married 1.5-5 years.
Study Design: With snowball sampling and community contacts, the informants were obtained through newspaper advertisements.
Findings: Even though this study was meant to focus on the experiences of the fathers, it became evident early in the interviews that the fathers saw themselves as part of the laboring couple. However, they believed the staff did not view them as full partners. During labor and birth, the fathers experienced hidden fears (over not being viewed as full partners), excitement, relief, the belief that labor is work, and a shift in focus from the mother to the baby. All of the fathers noticed that the health care professional viewed his purpose at childbirth as offering support to his partner through her labor and delivery.
Research reviewed by Cynthia M. Turner, RN, while a student at Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Nursing, in Richmond, VA.
Abstract 4:
Premise: Paternal participation during childbirth has a positive influence on the maternal perception of childbirth.
Research Questions: 1) What are fathers’ feelings about being with their partner during her labor? 2) What were fathers’ feelings about their experience of being present when their child was born? 3) What three things do fathers think they did that were most helpful to their partner during labor and delivery?
Background: Joint participation during the childbirth by both the husband and the wife results in a more positive birth experience.
Subjects: Forty-four first-time fathers with the ages ranging from 19-45 years (mean age, 26 years). All of these fathers were married and living with their spouse. Some had attended prenatal classes and some had not. The sample was obtained from a military population and the majority were Caucasian.
Study Design: Three open-ended questions (see above) were presented to the fathers. The fathers sent the data through the mail and they used preprinted, coded questioners to ensure confidentiality.
Findings: The father’s helpfulness was the most useful paternal behavior to the spouse. Even though the fathers had a less active role during their spouse’s delivery, their involvement during labor required more interactive participation. The nurses mostly focused on the infant and the child, not on the father. The labor process is stressful for both the prepared and unprepared fathers. The fathers who had attended prenatal classes believed they needed more support (both physically and psychologically) and more communication. They also experienced more negative feelings than the fathers who did not attend classes (61% vs. 39%). Many fathers may not wish to be labor coaches–a topic that needs to be discussed in prenatal classes.
Research reviewed by Cynthia M. Turner, RN, while a student at Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Nursing, in Richmond, VA.
Abstract 5:
Premise: Support from the father positively affects bonding with the fetus on the part of the teen mother.
Research Question: Do adolescent mothers bond better prenatally and postnatally if they have support from the father of their baby?
Background: A satisfying relationship with the father of her baby leads a young mother to develop and experience more attachment to her child.
Subjects: Seventy-nine teenagers between the ages of 12 and 19 years participated in this study.
Study Design: After consent was granted, questionnaires were given to the participants. The participants were polled at four stages during their pregnancy and early postpartum time. Tools used in this research study were Avant’s Maternal Attachment Assessment Strategy, the Father of the Baby Scale, and the Maternal Fetal Attachment Scale.
Findings: The study found that most of the mothers reported feeling close to the father of their baby, in some cases despite the fact that the father had not even seen the newborn. Mothers who reported a close relationship with the father of their newborn appeared to keep their newborn infant nearer to them during times of observation.
Research reviewed by Caren M. Bennett-Bray, RN, while a student at Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Nursing, in Richmond, VA.