Partner and professional support are associated with father-infant bonding : A cross-sectional analysis of mothers, midwives, and child health nurses’ influence on primiparous and multiparous fathers of infants in Sweden

• Objective: To assess if received professional and social support are associated with father-infant bonding among primiparous (first-time) and multiparous (multi-time) fathers. Background: Early father-infant bonding predicts several positive child outcomes. However, while received professional and social support positively impacts fathers’ transition into parenthood, little research has tested if these factors are associated with a stronger father-infant bond. Methods: In total, 499 fathers (296 primiparous and 203 multiparous) of infants (aged 0–12 months) completed a cross-sectional online survey between November 2018 and March 2020. The survey included items related to socio-demographics, having a planned pregnancy, postnatal midwifery support, child health nurse support, child health center attendance, and social support. The parent-infant bonding questionnaire (PBQ) was used to assess the father-infant bond. Multiple linear regression models were estimated for the total sample and based on paternal parity. Missing data were managed through multiple imputation procedures. Findings: Fathers reported fewer bonding disturbances if they received support from their partners, postnatal midwives, child health nurses, and attended more child health visits. Primiparous fathers reported fewer bonding disturbances when receiving support from their partners, postnatal midwives, and the child health nurse. However, multiparous fathers had more bonding disturbances than primiparous fathers and received less professional and partner support. Conclusions: Receiving more partner and professional support is associated with less father-infant bonding disturbances. To encourage a better father-infant bond, clinicians should invite and support all fathers, regardless of parity, as they transition to parenthood. © 2024 The Authors

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Sociologi -- Socialt arbete (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Sociology -- Social Work (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Child health nurses

Fathers

Maternal support

Midwives

Parent-infant bonding

Professional support

adult

article

child

child health

child parent relation

controlled study

cross-sectional study

father

female

human

infant

major clinical study

male

midwife

mother

multiple linear regression analysis

nurse

parenthood

parity

pediatric hospital

pregnancy

questionnaire

social support

sociodemographics

Sweden

Socialt arbete

Social Work

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)