Paternal-infant attachment of experienced and inexperienced fathers during infancy.
Seventy-nine experienced fathers (with one or more previous children) and 93 inexperienced (first-time) fathers were studied for differences in paternal-infant attachment at postpartal hospitalization and at 1, 4, and 8 months following birth. No significant differences were observed between the groups for reported attachment to their infants; scores varied little. Over the 8-month period, from 27% to 47% and from 9% to 22% of the variance in attachment was explained for experienced fathers and inexperienced fathers, respectively. Fetal attachment was a major predictor for attachment for experienced fathers at the first three test periods, explaining 19% of the variance at early postpartal hospitalization, 16% at 1 month, and 9% at 4 months. It was a major predictor for inexperienced fathers the first month only, explaining 13% of the variance at early postpartal hospitalization and 15% at 1 month. Depression was the second most important predictor. For experienced fathers, it explained 8% of attachment at early postpartum and 22% at 8 months; for inexperienced fathers, it explained 7% at 1 month and 9% at 4 months. Environmental factors such as social support and stress had no effects on fathers' attachment to their infants.
Ferketich
S L
SL
College of Nursing, University of Arizona, Tucson.
Mercer
R T
RT
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005219:Father-Child Relations; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009769:Object Attachment; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012380:Role; D013997:Time Factors