Parental styles in prospective fathers: A research carried out using a semistructured interview during pregnancy

Abstract

Recent reviews on research into fathers consistently have drawn attention to the increased knowledge and thinking of the multifaceted, complex, and changing nature of fathers' role. Paternal involvement has been studied with reference to a number of variables, including personality, attitudes, and family structure. The concept of "understanding mental states" and of mentalization and the notion and working definition of Reflective Self Function, as devised by Fonagy and colleagues, seem to have important implications for paternal and parental involvement, and for normal development of the infantcaretaker relationship. The aim of our research was to broaden current knowledge and thinking about fathering during pregnancy by investigating how 112 prospective fathers are involved in the transition to fatherhood and how they are able to reflect on their experience. Our aim was to identify parental styles according to May's concepts and to rate Reflective Self Function in The Clinical Interview for Parents During Pregnancy [Colloquio per Genitori in Gravidanza (CGG)]. The CGG is a semistructured clinical interview devised with the most recent psychoanalytic views on mental representations taken into account and is aimed at investigating feelings and attitudes toward the baby, the couple's inner and subjective world. Our results highlighted the complexity of paternal involvement in pregnancy and its relation with Reflective Self Function. Specific relations also were found between Reflective Self Function and the three styles of detachment/involvement identified by May.RESUMEN: Revisiones recientes acerca de la investigación sobre los papás han llamado la atención consistentemente acerca del incremento del conocimiento y pensamiento sobre la multifacética, compleja y cambiante naturaleza del papel del padre. El involucramiento paternal ha sido estudiado con referencia a un cierto número de variables, incluyendo la personalidad, actitudes y estructura familiar. El concepto de "la comprensión de los estados mentales" y de la mentalización, así como la noción y definición usual de la Función de Autorreflexión, tal como fue diseñada por Fonagy y sus colegas, parece tener importantes implicaciones en cuanto al involucramiento del papá y de los padres en general, y también en cuanto al desarrollo normal de la relación entre el infante y quien le presta los cuidados. La meta de nuestra investigación fue la de ensanchar el actual conocimiento y pensamiento acerca de la paternidad durante el embarazo, por medio de investigar cómo 112 padres futuros están involucrados en la transición a la paternidad y cómo ellos son capaces de reflexionar sobre su experiencia. Nuestra meta fue la de identificar estilos de crianza según los conceptos de May y la de clasificar la Función de Autorreflexión en La Entrevista Clínica para los Padres durante el Embarazo (CGG-Colloquio per Genitori in Gravidanza). Dicho instrumento es una entrevista clínica semiestructurada, diseñada teniendo en cuenta los puntos de vista sicoanalíticos más re...

Antecedents of maternal parenting stress: the role of attachment style, prenatal attachment, and dyadic adjustment in first-time mothers

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The transition to parenthood: what does it mean for fathers?

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Exploring Maternal Representations During Pregnancy in Normal and At‐Risk Samples: The Use of the Interview of Maternal Representations During Pregnancy

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