Marital adjustment and fatherhood.

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between marital stability and fathers' bonding to their first born infants. Current literature reports on the significant and unique influence of the father on his developing infant and the influence of the father on the mother-infant bond. Some authors suggest that prematurity, the type of delivery, or a father's presence or absence at the birth, influences his engrossment or bonding and later caretaking behaviour. However, little attention has been given to other factors such as the father's personality, education, previous experience with child care or his relationship with his spouse. Similarily, there is a paucity of research on the effect of the birth of the infant on the marital bond. Einzig, Wente and Crockenberg and Dyer suggest that the transition to parenthood is a crisis in the family life and can lead to disruption in the husband-wife relationship. With the apparent increase in family instability in the last decade as marked by the rising divorce rate, it seems crucial to explore what correlation, if any, exists between marital condition and a father's relationship to his newborn infant.