Does father involvement affect attachment and maternal depression and quality of life?: a randomized controlled trial.

IF 2.4 4区医学 Q1 MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL

Family practice Pub Date : 2025-04-12 DOI:10.1093/fampra/cmaf024

Fatma Yıldırım, Ebru Şahin

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to examine the effects of father involvement on father-infant bonding, postpartum depression in mothers, and quality of life.

Materials and methods: The research involved randomized, controlled experimental design and was conducted from September 2021 to June 2023 with 63 mothers and fathers (31 in the experimental group and 32 in the control group). Fathers in the experimental group were given infant care training within the first 1-4 h after birth. The fathers were called with telephone in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 8th, and 12th weeks and participation in infant care was monitored. Data were collected using Personal Information Forms for Mother-Father, Baby Care Participation Chart, the Father-Infant Attachment Scale (FIAS), the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS), and the Maternal-Postpartum Quality of Life Scale (MPQOLS). Data analysis was done with SPSS and t-test, Mann-Whitney U, and Cohen's d were used.

Results: Fathers in the experimental group displayed significantly higher mean FIAS scores (83.79 ± 5.89) and subscales compared to those in the control group (P < .05). Mothers in the experimental group exhibited lower mean EPDS scores in the 4th, 8th, and 12th weeks (2.74 ± 2.07; 1.71 ± 3.51; 1.71 ± 3.43), along with higher MPQOLS mean scores (26.46 ± 2.11; 27.62 ± 1.55; 27.83 ± 1.41), as compared to the control group, with these differences being statistically significant (P < .05).

Conclusion: Father involvement strengthens father-infant bonding, reduces maternal postnatal depression risk, and improves postnatal quality of life. Healthcare providers, in postpartum care settings, could integrate father-focused education and support into routine care protocols.

Clinical trial registration: This study was prospectively registered at NCT05588089.

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父亲的参与是否影响依恋、母亲的抑郁和生活质量？随机对照试验。

目的：本研究旨在探讨父亲参与对亲子关系、母亲产后抑郁和生活质量的影响。材料与方法：本研究采用随机对照实验设计，研究时间为2021年9月至2023年6月，共63名父母（实验组31名，对照组32名）。实验组父亲在出生后1 ~ 4小时内进行婴儿护理训练。在第2周、第3周、第4周、第8周和第12周对这些父亲进行电话联系，并监测他们对婴儿护理的参与情况。采用父母个人信息表、婴儿护理参与表、父子依恋量表（FIAS）、爱丁堡产后抑郁量表（EPDS）和母亲产后生活质量量表（MPQOLS）收集数据。数据分析采用SPSS统计软件，采用t检验，Mann-Whitney U和Cohen’s d。结果：实验组父亲的平均FIAS得分（83.79±5.89）分和亚量表得分均显著高于对照组(P)。结论：父亲参与增强了父子关系，降低了母亲产后抑郁的风险，提高了产后生活质量。在产后护理环境中，医疗保健提供者可以将以父亲为中心的教育和支持纳入日常护理方案。临床试验注册：本研究的前瞻性注册号为NCT05588089。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Family practice 医学-医学：内科

CiteScore

4.30

自引率

9.10%

发文量

144

审稿时长

4-8 weeks

期刊介绍： Family Practice is an international journal aimed at practitioners, teachers, and researchers in the fields of family medicine, general practice, and primary care in both developed and developing countries. Family Practice offers its readership an international view of the problems and preoccupations in the field, while providing a medium of instruction and exploration. The journal''s range and content covers such areas as health care delivery, epidemiology, public health, and clinical case studies. The journal aims to be interdisciplinary and contributions from other disciplines of medicine and social science are always welcomed.