Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology最新文献

{"title":"Evaluating the factor structure of the pregnancy-related anxiety scale: implications for maternal and infant wellbeing.","authors":"Frances C Calkins, Lauren M Laifer, Rachel C B Beck, Sarah J Gervais, Rebecca L Brock","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2024.2409146","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02646838.2024.2409146","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims/background: </strong>Although the Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Scale - also referred to as the Pregnancy-Related Thoughts Scale (PRT) - is one of the most widely utilised measures of pregnancy-related anxiety (PrA), there is limited research exploring its factor structure and psychometric properties. The present study sought to (a) explore the factor structure of the PRT and (b) examine whether specific dimensions of PrA differentially predict postpartum outcomes.</p><p><strong>Design/methods: </strong>A community sample of pregnant women (<i>N</i> = 159) was recruited from a Midwestern city in the United States and completed the PRT alongside other self-report measures of stress and maternal health and mood during pregnancy. Participants also completed measures of maternal health and mood, as well as parenting/infant outcomes, at 1- and 6-months postpartum.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Results provided support for a bifactor model with two unique dimensions of the PRT capturing baby- and self-focused concerns, respectively. Maternal self-focused PrA uniquely predicted postpartum internalising problems (β = .22), worse physical health (β = -.27), and impaired mother-infant bonding (β = .19) when controlling for baby-focused and general PrA.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Findings highlight the utility of screening for specific dimensions of PrA to promote both maternal and infant wellbeing following childbirth. Specifically, evidence suggests that screening for self-focused PrA, above and beyond baby-focused PrA, might facilitate prevention and intervention efforts and allow researchers to better understand antecedents and consequences of unique facets of PrA.</p>","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"434-448"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11954974/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142337001","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"In search of the <i>'like-minded'</i> people: pregnant women's sense-making of their physical activity-related social experiences.","authors":"Rebecca Livingston, Michael Larkin, Ellinor K Olander, Lou Atkinson","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2024.2388165","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02646838.2024.2388165","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims/background: </strong>Social factors are increasingly recognised as influential on antenatal physical activity. While pregnant women describe the people and support they require to remain physically active, little is known about how pregnant women select and make sense of their social experiences throughout pregnancy. This study followed pregnant women's sense-making of their physical activity-related social experiences as pregnancy progressed, and physical activity declined.</p><p><strong>Design/methods: </strong>This study used a qualitative design. Four pregnant women were recruited in their second trimester, participated in three individual semi-structured interviews and submitted diary entries throughout trimesters two and three. Data were analysed using longitudinal interpretative phenomenological analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>To facilitate physical activity, pregnant women were <i>'searching for the \"like-minded\" people who motivate, share and understand'</i>, namely pregnant women and prenatally trained exercise professionals. When making sense of social experiences, pregnant women were <i>'grading and critiquing the quality and paucity of \"active pregnancy\" information'</i>, and<i>'cherry-picking social experiences necessary for \"nesting\", obtaining support and protecting self-esteem as physical activity declined'</i>. This involved disengaging from social experiences, and consequently, some pregnant women found themselves <i>'lamenting interactions with the \"like-minded\" people, contending with grief and inner conflict'</i>.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Pregnant women proactively seek and make sense of social experiences to facilitate physical activity. In an increasingly digitalised society, interventions should support pregnant women to utilise social media constructively and safely to access <i>'like-minded'</i> people, provide in-person and virtual networks to meet individual support needs throughout pregnancy and encourage health professionals to demonstrate interest in the <i>'active pregnancy'</i> to maximise influence.</p>","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"449-467"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141890420","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of midwives' attitudes towards evidence-based practices on mothers' perceptions regarding childbirth practices and satisfaction.","authors":"Esra Karataş Okyay, Hatice Gül Öztaş","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2024.2429582","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02646838.2024.2429582","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The aim was to determine the effect of midwives' attitudes towards evidence-based practices in childbirth on mothers' perception and satisfaction with childbirth practices.</p><p><strong>Material and method: </strong>This cross-sectional study was carried out with the participation of 34 midwives working in the delivery rooms of three public hospitals in a province in the south of Türkiye and 287 postpartum women whose deliveries were facilitated by these midwives. A Personal Information Form and the Midwives' Evidence-Based Practices Attitude Scale during Labor (MEBPAS) were administered to the midwives. A Personal Information Form, the Birth Practices Perception Scale (BPPS), and the Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised (BSS-R) were administered to the postpartum women.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Because the skewness and kurtosis values were between -2 and + 2, the data showed normal distribution. The multiple linear regression model showed that the dimensions of MEBPAS (Interventional Practices, Supportive Care Practices, Movement and Nutrition Practices, Early Postpartum Period Practices) explained 29.4% of the total variance in BSS-R (F = 30.798; <i>p</i> = 0.041) and 53.4% of the total variance in BPPS (F = 83.094; <i>p</i> < 0.001). According to the Structural Equation Modeling, Interventional Practices, Movement and Nutrition Practices, and Early Postpartum Period Practices had statistically significant positive effects on BSS-R (respectively, β = 0.286, <i>p</i> < 0.001; β = 0.479, <i>p</i> = 0.016, and β = 1.009, <i>p</i> < 0.001), while Interventional Practices, Supportive Care Practices, and Early Postpartum Period Practices had statistically significant negative effects on BPPS (respectively, β=-0.048, <i>p</i> < 0.001; β=-0.026, <i>p</i> = 0.027, and β=-0.039, <i>p</i> = 0.034).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>It was found that midwives' positive attitudes towards evidence-based practices in childbirth positively affected women's perceptions and satisfaction with birth practices.</p>","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"468-487"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142683218","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes of kangaroo care in preterm and low birth weight children: scoping review.","authors":"Letícia Ferreira Silva, Maria Cândida Ferrarez Bouzada, Rafael de Paula Paschoalino, Ana Carolina Cabral de Paula Machado, Delma Aurélia da Silva Simão, Suelen Rosa de Oliveira","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2025.2568760","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02646838.2025.2568760","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Brain development during the prenatal period and early infancy is critical and highly sensitive to sensory experiences, which can be disrupted by preterm birth. Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) emerged as a humanised alternative to conventional neonatal care, promoting thermal regulation, breastfeeding, and mother-infant bonding. While its short-term benefits are well documented, evidence on long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes remains limited. In this review, long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes were defined as those assessed after six months of corrected age. This study aims to synthesise and critically appraise the existing evidence on the long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes of KMC in preterm and/or low birth weight (PT/LBW) infants.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A scoping review was conducted using the PubMed, Embase, Virtual Health Library, and SciELO databases. Articles published in English, Portuguese, or Spanish between January 2014 and March 2025 were included, based on predefined eligibility and methodological quality criteria.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The search identified 2,380 articles, of which 12 were selected. The analysis grouped the articles into six categories of neurodevelopmental outcomes: cognitive, motor, socioemotional, and language development, as well as brain volume and brain activity. These outcomes were heterogeneously affected by KMC exposure. All evaluated domains demonstrated long-term benefits associated with KMC, with positive impacts observed in both behavioural outcomes and brain structure and function.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings highlighted the need to consider moderating and contextual factors involved in infant neurodevelopmental outcomes. In line with recent scientific literature, this review suggests that KMC is a promising intervention for improving long-term developmental outcomes in preterm and/or low birth weight infants.</p>","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"648-665"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145276403","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antenatal and postpartum depression in women who conceived after infertility treatment: a longitudinal study.","authors":"Yuka Ito, Daisuke Nishi","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2024.2380416","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02646838.2024.2380416","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Although the association between a history of infertility treatment and perinatal depression has been investigated, most research has been cross-sectional and has not used diagnostic assessment tools.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>This study investigates longitudinally the association between a history of infertility treatment and perinatal depression using WHO-Composite International Diagnostic Interview 3.0 (WHO-CIDI 3.0) and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study used data (N = 2,435) from the control group of a randomised controlled trial on a sample of pregnant women. Survival analysis was used to examine the influence of infertility treatment on perinatal depressive disorder evaluated by WHO-CIDI 3.0. The EPDS scores at four time points (T1 [baseline]: 18 ± 2 weeks gestation, T2: 32 weeks gestation, T3: 1 week postpartum, T4: 3 months postpartum) were analysed using generalised mixed model analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The risk of experiencing a major depressive episode evaluated by WHO-CIDI 3.0 did not significantly differ between women conceiving through infertility treatment and those conceiving spontaneously (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.64, p = 0.109). The longitudinal analysis demonstrated that EPDS scores significantly increased at T3 and T4 among women conceiving through infertility treatment compared with those conceiving spontaneously (adjusted estimates of fixed effect from T1 to T3: 1.17, p < 0.01; from T1 to T4: 0.71, p = 0.022).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Women conceiving through infertility treatment were not found to have a higher risk of diagnosable perinatal depressive disorder than those conceiving naturally. However, a history of infertility treatment can marginally increase sub-clinical postpartum depressive symptoms.</p>","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"522-534"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141753108","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Protocol for an intervention for new parents experiencing moderate psychosocial adversity: pilot feasibility randomised trial.","authors":"Alyssa Sawyer, Bronni Simpson, Christy Reece, Vanessa Richardson, Josephine Carbone, Melissa John, Rebecca Linke, Kate Russo, Deborah Turnbull, Michael Sawyer","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2024.2390903","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02646838.2024.2390903","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Parents exposed to psychosocial adversities often experience challenges which, combined with the needs of a new-born infant, can be difficult to manage and increase the risk of poor outcomes for both parents and infants. Psychosocial adversity can disrupt the development of parental-foetal attachment to the baby during pregnancy, which can have a negative effect on parental care and quality of interaction during the postnatal period. This intervention is based on the proposition that enhanced parental capacity to mentalise and emotionally connect to unborn children during pregnancy, and better understanding about how to manage distressing infant behaviour (i.e., persistent crying and sleep problems) will: (i) promote the development of secure parent-infant attachment; (ii) improve antenatal bonding and postnatal parenting; and, (ii) reduce parental distress.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>This protocol is for a pilot randomised control trial evaluating a new intervention, which makes use of innovative technologies to support parents experiencing moderate psychosocial adversity (Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12622000287730). The New Technology for New Parents (NTNP) intervention provides support using antenatal ultrasound scans and 'virtual home visits' during the perinatal period. Quantitative outcomes include mentalising capacity, parental-foetal/infant attachment, and parental competence.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>To the best of our knowledge, no study has evaluated the combined effectiveness of two novel technologies (3D/4D ultrasound scans and virtual home visits) to support parents across the antenatal and postnatal periods. This protocol, which includes the rationale for this innovative intervention, addresses a gap in services for parents experiencing moderate psychosocial adversity.</p>","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"610-631"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142001021","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The course of women's emotions from early pregnancy to the postpartum period.","authors":"Lea Takács, Samuel P Putnam, Catherine Monk, Šárka Kaňková, Jana Ullmann, Sameera Abuaish, Jakub Kreisinger","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2025.2466622","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02646838.2025.2466622","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Most studies on emotions in the perinatal period have focused on psychopathology, identifying groups of women with distinct symptom trajectories, but research on typical, normative changes in emotions across the perinatal period is scarce. This study examines typical patterns of emotions in low-risk, healthy perinatal population.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A prospective longitudinal study with 151 participants who completed emotion-related questionnaires (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, Perceived Stress Scale, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) six times during pregnancy and twice in the postpartum. Linear mixed effect models were used to test whether maternal emotions underwent significant changes across the perinatal period and whether those changes are affected by child sex and parity. Nonlinear temporal trends were fitted by natural cubic splines.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>For all emotions, we observed significant nonlinear changes across the perinatal period. Negative affect and anxiety decreased and positive affect increased significantly from the first to the third trimester. Depressive symptoms showed a U-shaped pattern and perceived stress remained unchanged during pregnancy. Negative affect and anxiety increased significantly from the third trimester to the first postpartum week. After stratifying for parity, the increase in negative emotions with approaching childbirth occurred only in primiparae.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Low-risk pregnancy and the early postpartum period are associated with emotional changes which differ depending on parity. Health care providers should inform pregnant women about those common changes to help them develop realistic expectations and enhance their ability to cope with the demands of pregnancy and the early postpartum period.</p>","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"559-573"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143484463","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A meta-synthesis of qualitative studies on the preferences of perinatal women for mental health screening.","authors":"Chen Chen, Ping Gan, Yunyun Gu, Guihua Shu","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2025.2591378","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02646838.2025.2591378","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To synthesise qualitative studies on perinatal women's mental health screening preferences to guide the timely creation of interventions and the delivery of individualised screening by healthcare professionals.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A meta-synthesis of Chinese and English datasets was conducted till 30 November 2024. The methodological quality was assessed using the JBI criteria.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Through meta-synthesis of the 13 included publications, we identified four key integrative findings: (1) mental health screening experiences, (2) preferences for screening implementation, (3) barriers to effective screening, and (4) proposed strategies for optimisation. These findings were further categorised into 11 distinct thematic groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study synthesises perinatal women's preferences, experiences, and barriers regarding mental health screening, highlighting the need for diversified screening modalities and address multi-level obstacles. Future efforts should focus on developing evidence-based and personalised screening strategies to enhance screening uptake and effectiveness.</p>","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"417-433"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145670238","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Routine third-trimester ultrasonography and child neurodevelopmental outcomes: a follow-up of a pragmatic cluster-randomised controlled trial.","authors":"Jens Henrichs, Marielle van Roekel, Anke B Witteveen, Michael Veder, Yoni Feenstra, Arie Franx, Marlou L A de Kroon, Anneloes van Baar, Corine J Verhoeven, Ank de Jonge","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2024.2409145","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02646838.2024.2409145","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims/background: </strong>Routine third-trimester ultrasonography is increasingly conducted to screen for foetal growth restriction (FGR) and reduce adverse perinatal and child neurodevelopmental outcomes using timely obstetric management. While it did not reduce adverse perinatal outcomes in previous trials, evidence regarding its association with child neurodevelopmental outcome is absent. We examined whether routine third-trimester ultrasonography is positively associated with child developmental and behavioural/emotional outcomes compared to usual care.</p><p><strong>Design/methods: </strong>Dutch mothers with a low-risk pregnancy participating in a subsample (<i>n</i> = 1070) of a nationwide cluster-randomised trial reported infant (age 6 months) and toddler (age 28 months) developmental milestones (Ages and Stages Questionnaire) and toddlers' internalising and externalising problems (Child Behavior Checklist). Usual care (<i>n</i> = 380) comprised selective ultrasonography. The intervention strategy (<i>n</i> = 690) included two routine third-trimester ultrasounds next to usual care. Both strategies applied the same interdisciplinary protocol for FGR detection and management.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Adjusted linear mixed-level regressions revealed that routine third-trimester ultrasonography was positively but modestly related to z-standardised infant developmental milestones at 6-month follow-up, B = 0.20, 95%CI [0.07; 0.32], <i>p</i> = 0.003, compared to usual care. At 28-month follow-up, these strategies did not differ in child developmental outcome and internalising and externalising problems.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Routine third-trimester ultrasonography was positively but modestly associated with infant development. In toddlerhood, routine ultrasonography was not related to child developmental and behavioural/emotional outcomes. Overall, these findings do not support the implementation of routine third-trimester ultrasonography for low-risk pregnant women for reasons concerning children's early neurodevelopmental outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"632-647"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142362266","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Feelings, thoughts and experiences of fathers in the early postpartum period: a phenomenological study.","authors":"Sadiye Ozcan, Nurcan Kirca","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2024.2409149","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02646838.2024.2409149","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims/background: </strong>Transition to parenthood is a complex and challenging situation not only for mothers but also for fathers. In this process, fathers' feelings, thoughts and experiences are very important. This study aims to understand fathers' feelings, thoughts and experiences in the early postpartum period.</p><p><strong>Design/methods: </strong>The descriptive phenomenological design was used in this study. Data were collected from 13 fathers through in-depth interviews. The content analysis method was used in data analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The following three themes were identified regarding the experiences of fathers in the early postpartum period: 'need for support', 'difficulties of being a father' and 'recommendations'. The fathers had more needs and inadequate support in their transition to the fatherhood role.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>All these results suggest that they faced many challenges in the early postpartum period. Sleep deprivation, being tired, having a restricted social life and increased responsibilities, and experiencing postpartum psychological fluctuations were some of these difficulties. In order to overcome these difficulties, they needed financial and moral support. The fathers who participated in the present study stated that they did not receive enough training and support from healthcare professionals. Healthcare professionals should keep in mind that not only of mothers and babies but also of fathers have needs to be met.</p>","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"595-609"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142337002","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}