FATHERS' PERCEPTIONS OF FATHERHOOD IN EARLY POSTPARTUM: PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES AND SOCIAL SUPPORT.
Contributors: University of Texas at Austin.
Published: 1985
Number of pages: 174
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The purpose of this research was to examine first-time fathers' perceptions of fatherhood and to determine if relationships existed between these perceptions and: (1) mothers' perceptions of fatherhood, (2) fathers' perceptions of personal attributes of masculinity and femininity, (3) mothers' perceptions of personal attributes of masculinity and femininity, and (4) fathers' perceptions of personal social support.

A nonrandomly selected, accessible sample of sixty-six first-time parent couples who had delivered healthy infants, participated in this study within the first three days following the birth. Three paper and pencil measures were used to collect one-time only data.

A major objective of this exploratory, survey research was to determine ways new fathers viewed the role of father. Using a fixed-alternative questionnaire, developed for the study, fathers' role choices were indicated by their attitudes toward their work, their wives, the infant, and the division of infant care and household tasks. A modified version of the questionnaire was used to determine mothers' attitudes about the fathering role.

The study's findings, though not generalizable beyond the study sample, suggest that men want to participate in an active, hands-on manner in infant care, and have strong nurturant feelings toward their wives and infants. Women in the sample agreed with their husbands' role choices, supporting previous research findings that husbands and wives negotiate the father's role prior to the birth. Fathers' psychological traits of masculinity and femininity were significantly related to their perceptions of fatherhood. However, mothers' perceptions of personal masculinity and femininity were not related to fathers' perceptions of fatherhood. Fathers' perceptions of personal social support were not significantly related to their role choices.

Overall, results of the study indicate that the birth of a first child, and the experiences surrounding this event (pregnancy and postpartum) are important life events in which both husband and wife are vitally involved. Nursing and research implications of the study's findings are discussed.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 47-02, Section: B, page: 0567.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, 1985.

School code: 0227.