Aims and objectives: This study aims to assess expectant fathers' social support, marital intimacy and health status during the third trimester of their partners' pregnancies. Further, we investigate the predictors of father-infant attachment after childbirth.
Background: Becoming a father is a transition. Research has focused more on mothers than on fathers, even though the philosophy of the maternal care system is about providing family-centred care. The psychological status of first-time fathers and the attachment they have to their infants have received little attention in the research.
Design: A repeated measures study design.
Methods: A total of 195 first-time fathers were recruited during the third trimester of their partners' pregnancies. During that time, they completed the Social Support Scale, the Marital Intimacy Scale and the Chinese Health Questionnaire. After childbirth, they completed the Paternal Attachment Inventory during the one-week postpartum period.
Results: The fathers who perceived more marital intimacy and support from their partners were more attached to their infants. Moreover, marital intimacy and partner support were important predictors for father-infant attachment.
Conclusions: Future research is warranted to determine the prenatal predictors of father-infant attachment for high-risk families.
Relevance to clinical practice: The philosophy of maternal care is family oriented; for health professionals, pregnancy is an important time to provide information and counsel couples. Interventions should not only target the health and well-being of expectant mothers but should also actively invite fathers to participate in prenatal care with their partners to facilitate marital intimacy and father-infant attachment.
© 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.