The Effect of Father-Infant Bonding on Fathers’ Attitudes Toward Participating in Childbirth and Fear of Childbirth

Yıl 2026, Cilt: 33 Sayı: 1, 93 - 102, 21.03.2026

Esra Çevik , Serap Kaynak

https://doi.org/10.17343/sdutfd.1830028

https://izlik.org/JA23XK36YG

Öz

Objective
This study aimed to examine the relationship between
father-infant bonding and expectant fathers’ attitudes
toward birth participation as well as their birth-related
fear levels.

Material and Method
This cross-sectional study was conducted between
November 2023 and July 2024 at the obstetrics
outpatient clinics, maternity ward, and delivery rooms
of Balıkesir University Health Practice and Research
Hospital. The sample consisted of 257 expectant
fathers who met the inclusion criteria. Data were
collected using the Sociodemographic Characteristics
Form, Paternal Antenatal Attachment Scale (PAAS),
Attitude Scale Towards Participation in Birth for
Father Candidates (ASPBFC), and Fathers’ Fear
of Childbirth Scale (FFCS). Descriptive statistics,
correlation analysis, univariate analyses, and linear
regression were performed for statistical evaluation.

Results
The mean scores of participants were 65.15 ± 6.70
for the PAAS, 60.03 ± 17.47 for the ASPBFC, and
59.85 ± 11.51 for the FFCS. Multiple linear regression
analyses identified several significant predictors of
ASPBFC and FFCS scores. Lower ASPBFC scores
were observed among unemployed participants,
those who did not feel ready for fatherhood, and
those who had not attended birth-related education,
while the spouse’s age was positively associated
with ASPBFC. Higher PAAS and FFCS scores were
associated with lower ASPBFC. For FFCS, higher
scores were found among participants with higher
income, those expecting a female fetus, and those
who had not attended birth-related education, and
FFCS increased with longer marriage duration. In
contrast, higher PAAS and ASPBFC scores were
associated with lower FFCS.

Conclusion
Expectant fathers in this study demonstrated low
attitudes toward birth participation, moderate fatherinfant
bonding, and high birth-related fear levels.
Father-infant bonding emerged as a significant
predictor for both ASPBFC and FFCS scores.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Attitude , Father , Fear of birth

Etik Beyan

The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Ethical approval was obtained from Balıkesir University Non-Interventional Research Ethics Committee (15.08.2023, 2023/78) and institutional permission from Balıkesir University Health Practice and Research Hospital (13.10.2023, E.305379). Written informed consent to participate and publish form was obtained from all participants included in the study.

Destekleyen Kurum

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or notforprofit sectors.

Proje Numarası

-

Teşekkür

We thank all the expectant fathers who voluntarily participated in this study.

Kaynakça

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