Health visitors' experiences talking about difficulties with the parent–infant relationship

Abstract

Parent–infant relationships are important for healthy child development and health visitors are in a prime position to highlight any difficulties. Limited research exists into health visitors' experiences of talking about these difficulties; therefore, this study aimed to shed further light on the subject. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 10 qualified health visitors working with parents and infants aged 0–4. Five themes emerged from the data: the felt experience – connection to the personal; the impact of containing and carrying the burden; how to name the elephant in the room; coping mechanisms; and some things help, some things hinder. Findings highlighted the emotional burden on participants leading to avoidance of having conversations. In conclusion, there is a need for reflective spaces and consultations, as well as future research to include exploring difficulties with fathers.