Men's psychological transition to fatherhood: an analysis of the literature, 1989-2008.

BACKGROUND The most recent review on men's transition to fatherhood was published in 1986. The present paper reports on how the literature has portrayed fatherhood over the past 20 years. The aim was to investigate men's psychological transition to fatherhood from pregnancy of the partner through the infant's first year of life. METHODS The PsycINFO, PubMed, MEDLINE, Ingenta, Ovid, EMBASE, and WoS databases were accessed to conduct a literature search on the topic. The concepts of self-image transformation, triadic relationship development, and social environment influence were used to examine the complexity of the fatherhood transition process. Specific focus was placed on men's intrapsychic relational and social dimensions. RESULTS Our analysis of the yielded results revealed three specific fatherhood stages: prenatal, labor and birth, and postnatal periods. Partner pregnancy was found to be the most demanding period in terms of psychological reorganization of the self. Labor and birth were the most intensely emotional moments, and the postnatal period was most influenced by environmental factors. The latter was also experienced as being the most interpersonally and intrapersonally challenging in terms of coping with the new reality of being a father. CONCLUSIONS Men's transition to fatherhood is guided by the social context in which they live and work and by personal characteristics in interplay with the quality of the partner relationship. Men struggle to reconcile their personal and work-related needs with those of their new families.

[1]  E. Charnov,et al.  A Biosocial Perspective on Paternal Behavior and Involvement , 1987 .

[2]  S. Chandler,et al.  Becoming a father. First-time fathers' experience of labor and delivery. , 1997, Journal of nurse-midwifery.

[3]  Francine deMontigny,et al.  Fathers' perceptions of the immediate postpartal period. , 2004, Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing : JOGNN.

[4]  Mark J. Gierl,et al.  Effects of Parenting Education on First-Time Fathers' Skills in Interactions with Their Infants , 2007 .

[5]  R. Kirk,et al.  First-time fathers: perceptions of preparedness for fatherhood. , 2016, The Canadian journal of nursing research = Revue canadienne de recherche en sciences infirmieres.

[6]  C. Morse,et al.  Men's adjustment to fatherhood: implications for obstetric health care. , 2003, Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing : JOGNN.

[7]  B. McBride,et al.  Identity Theory as a Guide to Understanding Fathers' Involvement With Their Children , 2000 .

[8]  W. Doherty,et al.  Marital satisfaction and father involvement during the transition to parenthood , 2007 .

[9]  A. Fägerskiöld.  Support of fathers of infants by the child health nurse. , 2006, Scandinavian journal of caring sciences.

[10]  J. Pleck,et al.  Paternal Involvement by U.S. Residential Fathers: Levels, Sources, and Consequences. , 2004 .

[11]  Cherine Habib,et al.  The Transition to Fatherhood: Identity and Bonding in Early Pregnancy , 2006 .

[12]  W. St John,et al.  Meeting the challenge of new fatherhood during the early weeks. , 2005, Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing : JOGNN.

[13]  F. Deutsch.  Equally Shared Parenting , 2001 .

[14]  F. Goldscheider,et al.  Men in Families: When Do They Get Involved? What Difference Does It Make? , 1998 .

[15]  D. Lupton,et al.  The experiences of new fatherhood: a socio-cultural analysis. , 1999, Journal of advanced nursing.

[16]  J. Draper.  Men's passage to fatherhood: an analysis of the contemporary relevance of transition theory. , 2003, Nursing inquiry.

[17]  M. Williamson,et al.  Functional status after fatherhood: an Australian study. , 2002, Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing : JOGNN.

[18]  Sandra L. Hofferth,et al.  Children's Time With Fathers in Intact Families , 2001 .

[19]  A. Henderson,et al.  The experiences of new fathers during the first 3 weeks of life. , 1991, Journal of advanced nursing.

[20]  Charlie Lewis,et al.  The role of the father in child development , 1978, Psychological Medicine.

[21]  H. Finnbogadóttir,et al.  Expectant first-time fathers' experiences of pregnancy. , 2003, Midwifery.

[22]  K. Vehviläinen-Julkunen,et al.  Fathers' experiences of childbirth. , 1998, Midwifery.

[23]  K. Pruett.  Role of the father. , 1998, Pediatrics.

[24]  C. Tiller.  Fathers' parenting attitudes during a child's first year. , 1995, Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing : JOGNN.

[25]  D. Hudson,et al.  EFFECTS OF THE NEW FATHERS NETWORK ON FIRST-TIME FATHERS' PARENTING SELF-EFFICACY AND PARENTING SATISFACTION DURING THE TRANSITION TO PARENTHOOD , 2003, Issues in comprehensive pediatric nursing.

[26]  Lucy E Bailey.  Refracted Selves? A Study of Changes in Self-Identity in the Transition to Motherhood , 1999 .

[27]  S. Ferketich,et al.  Men's health status during pregnancy and early fatherhood. , 1989, Research in nursing & health.

[28]  J. Kevin Nugent,et al.  Cultural and psychological influences on the father's role in infant development. , 1991 .

[29]  E. Patterson.  Expectant Fathers: Influence of Perinatal Education on Stress, Coping, and Spousal Relations , 1998 .

[30]  W. Goldberg,et al.  Self and possible selves during the transition to fatherhood , 1999 .

[31]  K. Hangsleben.  Transition to fatherhood: literature review. , 1980, Issues in health care of women.

[32]  Michael E. Lamb,et al.  The father's role: Cross-cultural perspectives. , 1987 .

[33]  M. Yogman.  Development of the Father-Infant Relationship , 1982 .

[34]  L. Chapman,et al.  Expectant fathers' roles during labor and birth. , 1992, Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing : JOGNN.

[35]  P. Boyce,et al.  The First-Time Fathers Study: a prospective study of the mental health and wellbeing of men during the transition to parenthood. , 2004, The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry.

[36]  M. Williamson,et al.  An Australian perspective of fatherhood and sexuality. , 2008, Midwifery.

[37]  J. Donovan.  The process of analysis during a grounded theory study of men during their partners' pregnancies. , 1995, Journal of advanced nursing.

[38]  A. Norberg,et al.  Swedish fathers' involvement in and experiences of childbirth preparation and childbirth. , 1999, Midwifery.

[39]  F. Bozett,et al.  The changing nature of fatherhood: the nurse and social policy. , 1986, Journal of Advanced Nursing.

[40]  M. Heaman,et al.  Is a healthy lifestyle related to stress, parenting confidence, and health symptoms among new fathers? , 1998, The Canadian journal of nursing research = Revue canadienne de recherche en sciences infirmieres.

[41]  J. Draper,et al.  'It's the first scientific evidence': men's experience of pregnancy confirmation. , 2002, Journal of advanced nursing.

[42]  R. Parke,et al.  Family interaction in infancy. , 1987 .

[43]  K. Henwood,et al.  The 'good father': reading men's accounts of paternal involvement during the transition to first-time fatherhood. , 2003, The British journal of social psychology.

[44]  Geoffrey L. Brown,et al.  Paternal Identity, Maternal Gatekeeping, and Father Involvement. , 2005 .

[45]  P. Jordan.  Laboring for Relevance: Expectant and New Fatherhood , 1990, Nursing research.

[46]  D. Entwisle,et al.  The emergent father role , 1988 .

[47]  Scott Coltrane.  Family Man: Fatherhood, Housework, and Gender Equity , 1996 .

[48]  P. Rautava,et al.  The Finnish Family Competence Study: young fathers' views on health education. , 1993, Proceedings of the Finnish Dental Society. Suomen Hammaslaakariseuran toimituksia.