Development of the fatherhood attitude scale and the attitudes of childless individuals toward motherhood and fatherhood

Objective: In contemporary society, the attitudes of both women and men toward parenthood are undergoing significant transformations, shaped by evolving social roles, career aspirations, and individual life preferences. Within this context, the present study first aimed to develop a valid and reliable scale to assess the attitudes of men without children toward fatherhood, and subsequently to examine the parenthood-related attitudes of individuals who have not yet become parents. Materials and Methods: This research was conducted as a methodological, descriptive, and cross-sectional study. In the scale development phase, the sample consisted of men employed by and receiving services from a metropolitan municipality in a province located in western Turkey, and the Attitude Toward Fatherhood Scale was developed. In the second phase, which aimed to examine attitudes toward parenthood, the sample included women and men working in public institutions with official approval from the governor's office, as well as women employed by and receiving services from the same metropolitan municipality, provided that they met the study criteria. Data in the second phase were collected using the Socio-Demographic Information Form, the Attitudes toward Fertility and Childbearing Scale (AFCS), and the Attitude Toward Fatherhood Scale. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS and AMOS software. In the scale development phase, the data were coded, and frequency and percentage distributions of descriptive characteristics, along with the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) statistic, were calculated. Scale validity was assessed through the content validity index and construct validity (via exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses). Reliability was examined by considering standard error, Cronbach's alpha coefficient, item–total score correlation, Average Variance Extracted (AVE), Composite Reliability (CR), and response bias. For the assessment of non-continuous variables, the Mann–Whitney U test and Kruskal–Wallis H test were applied, while Spearman correlation analysis was employed for continuous variables. Results: The factor analysis conducted during the scale development phase yielded a KMO value of 0.932, indicating that the sample size was adequate for factor analysis. Bartlett's test produced a statistically significant chi-square value (x² = 5419.382, p < 0.001), confirming the suitability of the data and meeting the assumption of normality. The scale was structured into two subdimensions. Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the subscales were α = 0.932 for the first factor (Expectations of Fatherhood) and α = 0.888 for the second factor (Present Barriers). Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that the fit indices, including the Comparative Fit Index (CFI), Normed Fit Index (NFI), Non-Normed Fit Index (NNFI), Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA), Goodness of Fit Index (GFI), and Incremental Fit Index (IFI), were all within acceptable thresholds. Regarding attitudes toward parenthood, the mean age of female participants was 25.74 ± 4.40 years. Significant associations were identified between the Attitudes toward Fertility and Childbearing Scale (AFCS) scores and education level, region of residence, age, marital status, length of marriage (for married participants), partner's occupation, income level, and the preferred age for having a first child. For male participants, the mean age was 25.72 ± 4.86 years. Significant relationships were found between the Attitude Toward Fatherhood Scale scores and family planning status, desire for children, age, marital status, income level, and the preferred age for having a first child. Conclusion: The analyses confirmed that the Fatherhood Attitude Scale developed in the first phase is a valid and reliable measurement tool. Findings from the second phase revealed that numerous sociodemographic factors including age, marital status, and educational background significantly influence attitudes toward parenthood. While some factors demonstrated parallel effects across women and men, others diverged, underscoring the gender-specific dynamics shaping fertility and parenthood attitudes.