The impact of fathers' parenting self-confidence and involvement in infant care on attachment levels

The study was conducted in a descriptive and correlational design to examine the effects of fathers' parenting self-confidence and their involvement in infant care on the level of father–infant attachment. The research was carried out between October 2024 and April 2025 with the participation of 231 fathers who had infants aged 6–12 months and were registered at five family health centers in the Ortahisar district of Trabzon. Data were collected using the "Introductory Information Form," the "Karitane Parenting Confidence Scale (KPCS)," the "Father Involvement in Infant Care Questionnaire," and the "Father–Infant Attachment Scale (FIAS)." Statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 29.0. Descriptive statistics included standard deviation, arithmetic mean, frequency, percentage, mean, minimum, and maximum values. The normality of continuous variables was assessed using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, kurtosis (−2 to +2), and skewness (−1.5 to +1.5) values. Depending on the distribution of the data, appropriate parametric and non-parametric tests were applied. Relationships and effects among the scales were analyzed using Pearson correlation and linear regression. It was determined that 60.6% of the fathers were between 30–39 years of age, 62.4% were high school or associate degree graduates, and 53.7% were employed as private-sector workers. According to the research findings, fathers' parenting self-confidence (28.85±6.86), participation in infant care (92.83±15.20), and attachment levels (73.63±7.34) were found to be at a moderate level. It was determined that fathers' self-confidence regarding parenting explained 44.6% of the variance in father-infant bonding, while their participation in infant care explained 57% of the variance in bonding levels.. These results highlight the importance of strengthening fathers' parenting roles, expanding father-focused educational programs, and increasing supportive nursing interventions in health institutions. Accordingly, nurses should utilize their roles in guidance and education to enhance fathers' parenting self-confidence, encourage active participation in infant care, and support the establishment of father–infant attachment from the early period.