Investigation of the effects of fathers' gender roles attitude, marriage adjustment, and maternal attachment on prenatal father attachment

This study was conducted to examine the effects of fathers' gender role attitudes, marital adjustment and maternal attachment on prenatal paternal attachment. The descriptive study was conducted in the Gynecology and Obstetrics outpatient clinic of Hacettepe University Adult Hospital. The study included 255 expectant fathers and expectant mothers. The data were collected using the Descriptive Characteristics Form, Gender Role Attitudes Scale, Marital Adjustment Scale, Prenatal Attachment Inventory and Paternal Antenatal Attachment Scale. Descriptive statistics, pearson correlation test and multiple linear regression analysis were used to analyze the data. The mean age of the fathers who participated in the study was 31,80±5,14 and the mean age of their spouses was 29,07±5,36. According to the results of the study, the mean score of the fathers on the Gender Roles Attitude Scale was 134,44±19,45. The fathers' mean total score on the Marital Adjustment Scale was 48,08±7,50. The mean total score of the paternal antenatal attachment scale was 66,97±6,73. The mean total score of the fathers' spouses on the Prenatal Attachment Inventory was 68,17± 8,77. There is no statistically significant relationship between Fathers' Gender Roles Attitude Scale and Paternal Antenatal Attachment Scale (r=0,102, p=0,103). Gender roles attitude doesn't have a significant effect on paternal attachment (p=0,238). There is a positive, low-severity relationship between marital adjustment scale and paternal antenatal attachment scale (r=0,290, p=0,000). Marital adjustment has a significant effect on prenatal paternal attachment (p=0,000). There is no statistically significant relationship between Prenatal Attachment Inventory and Paternal Antenatal Attachment Scale (r=0,115, p=0,068). Prenatal maternal attachment does not have a significant effect on paternal attachment (p=0,178). Paternal age doesn't have a significant effect on prenatal paternal attachment (p=0,075). Perceived economic status does not have a significant effect on prenatal paternal attachment (p=0,216). In line with the results obtained from the study, it is recommended that fathers should be included in prenatal care, they should be encouraged to participate in examinations when they come to pregnancy control with their spouses, and they should be encouraged to participate in trainings on infant care in order to realize both marital harmony and secure father-infant attachment.