The Effect of Father – Infant Skin to Skin Contact on Father’s Attachment and in Marital Adjustment: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Asian Journal of Pregnancy and Childbirth,
Page 106-116
Abstract
Background: Preterm birth often negatively influences mother–infant and father-infant interaction. Skin-to-skin contact (SSC) post birth has positive effects on maternal and paternal feelings toward their preterm infants and on infant development and family interaction.
Methods: The aim of this study designed to investigate the effects of skin-to-skin contact of the father with newborn babies in the neonatal intensive care unit to the attachment of father-infant and in marital adjustment. The study is a randomized controlled trial using pre-test and post-test design. A private hospital in the central district of Manisa in Turkey. The sampling involved 60 fathers (30 intervention group-30 control group). The data were collected by using ‘‘Demographic Data Form”, “The Marital Adjustment Scales (MAS)” and “Postnatal Paternal-Infant Attachment Questionnaire (PPAQ)’’.
Results: The fathers who participated in this study were in similar ages, education, occupation, income, and marriage period (p>0.05). Total average score for MAS was 49.20±6.58 for intervention group and, is 50.37±5.36 in control group (p>0.05). The total average score for MAS after the intervention was 50.47±7.78 in intervention group and 50.37±4.78 in control group. PPAQ average score after intervention in the intervention group was 78.96±5.94 and 76.82±5.21 in control group. However, the average score was higher for the intervention group than the control group, there was not any statistically significant difference between two groups (p>0.05). Post-intervention; there was a moderate and significant positive correlation between father's total point averages of MAS and total point averages of PPAQ and total point averages of Pleasure in Interaction Subscale found in the correlation analysis conducted (p<0.05).
Conclusion: It was concluded that SSC doesn’t have any influence on father-infant attachment and marital adjustment, but after the intervention, there were a significant positive relationship between father-infant attachment and marital adjustment.
Keywords:
- Skin-to-skin contact
- father-infant attachment
- marital adjustment
- neonatal intensive care unit.
How to Cite
References
Güleç D, Kavlak O. The study of reliability and validity of paternal-infant attachment scale in Turkish society. Journal of Human Sciences. 2013;10(2):170-181.
Caye J, Cooke L, McMahon J, Karen R. Effect of attachment and separation. Children’s Services Practice Notes. 1997;2(4):1–3.
Şen S, Kavlak O. Transgenerational attachment in Manisa, Turkey. Contemporary Nurse. 2012;41(1):126-132.
Rholes WR, Simpson JA, Blakely BS, Lanigan L, Allen EA. Adult attachment styles, the desire to have children, and working models of parenthood. Journal of Personality. 1997;65(2):357-385.
Kesebir S, Kavzoğlu SÖ, Üstündağ MF. Bağlanma ve Psikopatoloji. Psikiyatride Güncel Yaklaşımlar. 2011;3(2):321-342.
Dagan O, Sagi‐Schwartz A. Early attachment network with mother and father: An unsettled issue. Child Development Perspectives. 2018;12(2):115-121.
McKelley RA, Rochlen AB. Furthering fathering: What we know and what we need to know. In APA handbook of men and masculinities. (American Psychological Association. 2016;525-549.
Bretherton I. Fathers in attachment theory and research: A review. Early Child Development and Care. 2010;180(1-2):9-23.
Lickenbrock DM, Braungart-Rieker JM. Examining antecedents of infant attachment security with mothers and fathers: An ecological systems perspective. Infant Behavior and Development. 2015;39:173-187.
Kavlak O, Şirin A. Maternal and paternal attachment and the role of nurse. Ege Üniversitesi Hemşirelik Yüksek Okulu Dergisi. 2007;23(2):183-94.
Ahn YM, Kim MR. The relationship between early neo-maternal exposure, and maternal attachment, maternal self-esteem and postpartum depression in the mothers of NICU infants. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing. 2005;35(5):798-809.
Ahn YM, Lee SM. The effects of the integrated NICU hospitalization education on maternal attachment, maternal self-esteem, and postpartum depression in the mothers of high-risk infants. Korean Journal of Child Health Nursing. 2004; 10(3):340-349.
Öztürk R, Saruhan A. Invastigation of correlation between depression and maternal attachment of mothers with 1- to 4-month-old premature babies treated at the hospital. Turkish Journal of Research & Development in Nursing. 2013;15(1):32-47.
Wolke D, Eryigit-Madzwamuse S, Gutbrod T. Very preterm/very low birthweight infants’ attachment: Infant and maternal characteristics. Archives of Disease in Childhood-Fetal and Neonatal Edition. 2014;99(1):F70-F75.
Güleşen A, Yıldız D. Investigation of maternal-ınfant attachment in the early postpartum period with evidence based practice. TAF Preventive Medicine Bulletin. 2013;12(2):177-82.
Köse D, Çınar N, Altınkaynak S. Bonding process of the newborn and the parents. Journal of Continuing Medical Education. 2013;22(6):239-245.
Ahn HY, Lee J, Shin HJ. Kangaroo care on premature infant growth and maternal attachment and post-partum depression in South Korea. Journal of Tropical Pediatrics. 2010;56(5):342- 344.
Tutarel-Kışlak Ş. Reliability and validity of the Marital Adjustment Test (MAT). Psikiyatri Psikoloji Psikofarmakoloji Dergisi. 1999;7(1):50-57.
Condon J, Corkindale C, Boyce P, Gamble E. A longitudinal study of father-to-infant attachment: antecedents and correlates. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology. 2013;31(1):15-30.
Moher D, Schulz KF, Altman D, for the CONSORT Group. The CONSORT Statement: Revised Recommendations for Improving the Quality of Reports of Parallel-Group Randomized Trials. JAMA. 2001; 285(15):1987-1991.
Hekimoğlu FM, Uluç S. The relationship between attachment styles, interpersonal schemas for partner and marital adaptation. Mediterranean Journal of Humanities. 2019;9(1):187-199.
Whisman MA. Marital distress and DSM-IV psychiatric disorders in a population-based national survey. Journal of Abnormal Psychology. 2007;116:638-643.
Whisman MA, Baucom DH. Intimate relationships and psychopathology. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review. 2012;15:4-13.
Kışlak ŞT, Çabukça F. The Relationship among empathy, demographic variables and marital adjustment. Journal of Social Policy Studies. 2002;5(5).
Kışlak ŞT, Göztepe I. The relation among expressed emotion, depression, empathy and marital adjustment. Ankara University Journal of Social Sciences. 2012;3(2):27-46.
Ekşi H, Güneş F, Yaman N. The investigation of marital adjustment of teachers in terms of psychological well-being and gender roles. Turkish Psychological Counseling and Guidance Journal. 2018;8(50):203-233.
Ümmet D. The mediating role of marital adjustment in the relationship between general psychological health and life satisfaction. Journal of the Human and Social Science Researches. 2017;6(1):159-175.
Şirin T. Research of the relationship between married couples’ marital adjustment and religious attitudes. Electronic Turkish Studies. 2018;13(2):691-722.
Kalkan M, Odacı H. Endorsement of traditional male role norms and marital adjustment among Turkish men. Men and Masculinities. 2017;20(2):135-153.
Siegel A, Levin Y, Solomon Z. The role of attachment of each partner on marital adjustment. Journal of Family Issues. 2019;40(4):415-434.
Shorey S, He HG, Morelius E. Skin-to-skin contact by fathers and the impact on infant and paternal outcomes: An integrative review. Midwifery. 2016;40:207-217.
Chen EM, Gau ML, Liu CY, Lee TY. Effects of father-neonate skin-to-skin contact on attachment: a randomized controlled trial. Nursing Research and Practice. 2017;1-8.
Helth TD, Jarden M. Fathers' experiences with the skin-to-skin method in NICU: Competent parenthood and redefined gender roles. Journal of Neonatal Nursing. 2013;19(3):114-121.
Varela N, Munoz P, Tessier R, Plata S, Charpak N. Indian fathers and their premature baby--an early beginning: a pilot study of skin-to-skin contact, culture and fatherhood. Fathering. 2014;12(2):211-218.
Taylor A, Atkins R, Kumar R, Adams D, Glover V. A new Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale: links with early maternal mood. Archives of Women’s Mental Health. 2005;8(1):45-51.
Amankwaa LC, Pickler RH, Boonmee J. Maternal responsiveness in mothers of preterm infants. Newborn and Infant Nursing Reviews. 2007;7(1):25-30.
Cock ES, Henrichs J, Klimstra TA, Maas AJB, Vreeswijk CM, Meeus WH, van Bakel HJ. Longitudinal associations between parental bonding, parenting stress, and executive functioning in toddlerhood. Journal of Child and Family Studies. 2017;26(6):1723-1733.
Suruculer HK. The effect of education given to fathers with 6-12 month old babies on father-infant attachment status. Unpublished Master's Thesis Turkey: Balıkesir University Health Science Institute, Balıkesir; 2019.
-
Abstract View: 84 times
PDF Download: 27 times
