Fathers’ and health professionals’ views of paternal perinatal support
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Fathers’ and health professionals’ perceptions of paternal perinatal support and their ideas for improvement.
IRAS ID
218419
Contact name
Sophie Fenton
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Salomons Centre for Applied Psychology, Canterbury Christ Church University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 1 days
Research summary
Fathers have reported struggling to be recognised as a parent by their partner, friends, colleagues, and society, and can often feel side-lined as helpmate or breadwinner. Although lower than rates reported in new mothers, increased rates of mental health problems in new fathers are reported, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Paternal postnatal depression is associated with behavioural and emotional problems in their children. Paternal depression is significantly correlated with maternal depression, and having two depressed parents increases the likelihood for poor childhood development. Accordingly, fathers who are ‘well’ can buffer negative effects of maternal depression on the child, and positive father involvement can be protective for the mother’s well-being. Additionally, the father-infant relationship is unique from the mother-infant relationship. It is argued that fathers promote exploration through play, and positively contribute to healthy psychological, behavioural and cognitive development in their children. Supporting fathers is therefore important for the father-infant relationship, couple relationship, and overall family well-being.
However, fathers often feel they lack the skills, experience, time, support and recognition for fathering. This can impede their adjustment to fatherhood and increase feelings of helplessness. Fathers have reported a lack of support from NHS staff during the perinatal period. Indeed, fathers are often considered for their ability to support and understand the mother, rather than their experience being considered a worthy focus in its own right.This study aims to address a gap in the literature through exploring fathers’ experiences during the perinatal period, their perceptions of support they received from health services, and how they feel paternal perinatal support can be improved. The study also aims to explore health visitors’ and midwives’ experiences of working with fathers, any barriers they may encounter to offering more paternal support, and their perceptions of the fathers’ ideas for improvements.
Relevant references in section A12.
REC name
London - Dulwich Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/0396
Date of REC Opinion
2 May 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion