A Study on First Time Fathers After the Birth of Their Child: Paternal Involvement

Authors

  • Mohd. Said Nurumal Department of Critical Care Nursing, Kulliyyah of Nursing, International Islamic University Malaysia, Pahang, Malaysia
  • Adam Lutfi Abdul Nasir KPJ Ampang Puteri Specialist Hospital, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Thandar Soe @ Sumaiyah Jamaludin Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, Kulliyyah of Nursing, International Islamic University Malaysia, Pahang, Malaysia
  • Shefaly Shorey Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies (NUS Nursing), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
  • Resti Yulianti Sutrisno School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31436/ijcs.v8i1.391

Keywords:

Fatherhood, Paternal involvement, Parenting self-efficacy, Social support, Postnatal depression, Parenting satisfaction, Marital satisfaction, Relationships, First-time fathers

Abstract

Background: The transition to fatherhood represents a critical period for first-time fathers, influencing their parenting self-efficacy (PSE), social support, postnatal depression (PND), and overall satisfaction in parenting and marital relationships. Cultural perspectives may shape these experiences, particularly in Malaysian contexts. This study aimed to examine the levels of PSE, social support, PND, parenting satisfaction, marital satisfaction, relationship with their fathers, and paternal involvement among first-time fathers at discharge from the hospital and one month postpartum, while exploring correlations among these variables across different socio-demographic subgroups.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 32 first-time fathers in Kuantan, Pahang. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation to identify relationships among variables.

Results: Results indicated high levels of PSE among fathers, which increased over time, while social support also improved. PND levels were low, and paternal involvement was moderate, with most fathers sharing caregiving tasks with their partners. Notably, significant differences were observed in parenting efficacy based on age and attendance at antenatal classes, and paternal involvement was influenced by educational level. The positive correlation between PSE and paternal involvement underscores the importance of enhancing fathers’ confidence and engagement in parenting. The study highlights the role of socio-demographic factors in shaping paternal experiences and outcomes, consistent with findings in similar cultural contexts.

Conclusion: This study emphasizes the significance of enhancing PSE and support systems for first-time fathers, underscoring the need for culturally relevant interventions that foster active paternal involvement and mitigate potential postnatal challenges. Future research should explore larger, diverse samples to strengthen the generalizability of these findings.

References

Castillo J, Welch G, Sarver C. Understanding predictors of paternal involvement in Western contexts. J Family Psychol. 2011;25(5):758–67.

Coates EE, Phares V. Father involvement in child-rearing: A review of Western studies. Psychol Bull. 2014;140(4):966–1004.

Simões C, Leal I, Maroco J. Determinants of father engagement during early childhood. Child Dev Res. 2010;15(3):45–56.

Kwok SY, Ling C, Leung C, Li KC. Fathers’ involvement in Asia: Challenges and facilitators. J Family Stud. 2013;19(1):78–89.

Shorey S, Ang L, Goh E, Gandhi M. Predictors of paternal involvement among first-time fathers in Asia. Int J Nurs Stud. 2018;84:61–9.

Xue W, Shorey S, Wang W, He HG. Factors influencing paternal involvement in child-rearing: A systematic review. J Pediatr Nurs. 2018;41:27–38.

Baldwin S, Rohim MA, Shorey S, Noviani W. Exploring online resources used by first-time fathers and their confidence in the information accessed. J Family Health. 2019;37(2):125–34.

Castillo JT, Sarver CM. Paternal involvement and instrumental social support: A moderating effect. Fam Relat. 2012;61(4):658–70.

Bronte-Tinkew J, Moore KA, Matthews G, Carrano J. Depression in first-time fathers and father-child activities. J Family Psychol. 2007;21(2):126–35.

Paulson JF, Dauber S, Leiferman JA. Depression in fathers and the health outcomes of children. JAMA Pediatr. 2011;165(10):953–9.

Jacobs S, Kelley M. Predictors of paternal involvement in family activities and support. J Family Issues. 2006;27(4):478–500.

Poh BK, Koh A, Seow YS, He H. Spousal and family support in first-time fathers: A Malaysian perspective. Fam Med Res. 2014;26(2):90–7.

Nurumal MS, Rohim MA, Jamaludin TSS, Shorey S, Noviani W. The first-time fathers’ experiences in early fatherhood: A descriptive qualitative study. International Journal of Care Scholars. 2024;7(2):56–68. https://doi.org/10.31436/ijcs.v7i2.362.

Baker CE. Father involvement and child well-being in the early years: A father-focused intervention. Child Dev. 2007;78(1):101–17.

Kwok SY, Li KC. Parental self-efficacy and involvement in child-rearing in Asian contexts. J Fam Psychol. 2015;29(6):837–42.

Baldwin S, Rohim MA, Shorey S, Noviani W. Self-efficacy in first-time fathers and parenting roles. J Family Health. 2019;37(2):135–42.

Beaton J, Doherty W. Fathers and fatherhood: The impact of their own fathers’ relationships. Fam Process. 2007;46(1):65–79.

Kwok SY, Leung C, Wong DF, Yeung J. Family support, father-child bonding, and paternal engagement: An Asian perspective. Asian Soc Sci. 2013;9(1):120–31.

Shorey S, Ng ED, Daniel M, Koh SS. Paternal postnatal depression and its influence on father involvement. Am J Mens Health. 2019;13(4):1557988319872046.

Paulson JF, Bazemore SD. Prenatal and postpartum depression in fathers and its impact on the family. JAMA. 2010;303(19):1961–9.

Baldwin S, Goh E, Koh D. Parenting satisfaction among first-time fathers in Asia. Parenting Sci Pract. 2019;17(3):290–302.

Xue W, Shorey S, Wang W, He HG. Predictors of paternal involvement in child-rearing: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Early Child Dev Care. 2018;188(5):612–25.

Diniz E, Brandao T, Verissimo M. Father involvement during early childhood: A systematic review of qualitative studies. Family Relations. 2023;72(5):2710-30.

Teti DM, Gelfand DM. Behavioral competence among mothers of infants in the first year: The mediational role of maternal self-efficacy. Child Dev. 1991;62(5):918–29.

Leerkes EM, Crockenberg SC. The development of maternal self-efficacy and its impact on parenting in the early years. Infant Behav Dev. 2003;26(4):405–17.

Cox JL, Holden JM, Sagovsky R. Detection of postnatal depression. Development of the 10-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Br J Psychiatry. 1987;150:782–6.

Rustia JG, Abbott DA. The role of the father in child development. Fam Relat. 1993;42(3):232–40.

Pridham KF, Chang AS. What being the parent of a new baby is like: Revision of an instrument. J Nurs Meas. 1989;8(1):55–66.

Funk JL, Rogge RD. Testing the ruler with item response theory: Increasing precision of measurement for relationship satisfaction with the Couples Satisfaction Index. J Fam Psychol. 2007;21(4):572–83.

Lewis SF, Owen MT. Family of Origin Questionnaire: Measure for relationships. Fam Process. 1995;34(2):227–39.

Cohen J. Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences. 2nd ed. New York: Routledge; 1992.

Shorey S, Chan SW, Chong YS, He HG. Predictors of parenting self-efficacy among new mothers in Singapore. Midwifery. 2015;31(4):809–16.

Trahan MH, Shafer K. Paternal Self-Efficacy: A Parenting Resilience Factor for Fathers with Depression. Social Work Research. 2019;43(2):101-114.

Gonzalez JC, Klein CC, Barnett ML. et al. Intervention and Implementation Characteristics to Enhance Father Engagement: A Systematic Review of Parenting Interventions. Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev 26. 2023; 445–458. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-023-00430-x

Sadeghi N, Sadeghi M, Khosravi F. The Role of Fathers in Child Development: A Cross-Cultural Perspective. International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy. 2020;14(1):1-12. doi:10.1186/s40723-020-00094-7.

Rochlen AB, McKelley RA, Suizzo M-A, Scaringi V. Predictors of relationship satisfaction, psychological well-being, and life satisfaction among stay-at-home fathers. Psychology of Men & Masculinity. 2008;9(1):17.

Hussain R, Zainal N, Hussain N. Paternal Involvement and Child Development in Malaysia: A Review of the Literature. Asian Journal of Psychiatry. 2021; 56:102529. doi: 10.1016/j.ajp.

Eskandari N, Simbar M, Vedadhir A, Baghestani A, Momenyan S. Related factors to paternal adaptation: A cross-sectional study for first-time fathers. Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research. 2019;24(1):18-24.

Downloads

Published

2025-03-31

How to Cite

Nurumal, M. S., Abdul Nasir, A. L. ., Jamaludin, T. S. @ S., Shorey, S. ., & Sutrisno, R. Y. . (2025). A Study on First Time Fathers After the Birth of Their Child: Paternal Involvement. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CARE SCHOLARS, 8(1), 5–16. https://doi.org/10.31436/ijcs.v8i1.391

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 1 (2025): International Journal of Care Scholars

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2024 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CARE SCHOLARS

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Most read articles by the same author(s)

1 2 > >>