Factors Influencing Paternal Attachment Among Preterm Infants in an Urban Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Rickey Taing,Lawrence Noble,Ivan L Hand,Ovidiu Galescu

doi:10.7759/cureus.8476

Abstract

The aim of this study is to elucidate factors that may influence paternal attachment to preterm infants in an urban hospital setting. Fathers of preterm infants admitted to a level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) were eligible for this study. The Paternal Postnatal Attachment Scale (PPAS) is a questionnaire that invokes paternal attachment in five domains: patience, tolerance, pleasure, affection and pride. Clinical and demographic data were collected along with the PPAS to identify factors influencing paternal attachment. Infants studied were 28.1 ± 3.3 weeks gestational age with a birth weight of 1,070 ± 70 grams. Paternal age was 29.2 ± 6.6 years. Infants of fathers who scored in the lowest quartile of attachment were significantly smaller (756 ± 17 grams vs 1,210 ± 76 grams, p = 0.03) and more immature (26.4 ± 1.9 weeks vs 28.8 ± 3.5 weeks, p = 0.04) than infants of fathers with higher attachment scores. Subscores of patience and tolerance (p = 0.05) and pleasure in interaction (p = 0.01) were also significantly lower although there was no significant difference in subscores of affection and pride (p = 0.36). There were no significant differences between attachment scores for paternal age, educational level, marital status, number of children or breastfeeding status. Paternal attachment scores appear to be dependent on infant factors, such as birth weight and gestational age, rather than paternal or demographic factors.

Highlights

The birth of a preterm infant and ensuing hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is a stressful experience for families, with the greatest stress affecting the families of the smallest, sickest infants [1,2,3]
The focus of this study is to examine variables that impact developing paternal attachment and bonding
A total of 27 fathers of preterm infants were eligible and available for this study and 23 fathers agreed to participate in the questionnaire

Summary

Introduction

The birth of a preterm infant and ensuing hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is a stressful experience for families, with the greatest stress affecting the families of the smallest, sickest infants [1,2,3]. Initially an anxiety provoking situation, it has been shown that fathers who have early contact with their infants have reduced anxiety. The sooner fathers are granted the permission to hold their infant, the sooner bonding and attachment is established [4,5]. Current research suggests that paternal attachment influences infant’s sociability and development. Children of disengaged fathers have been shown to have an increased incidence of early behavioral problems [6,7]. Assessment and facilitation of early paternal attachment may influence later child behavior and academic achievement

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