Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 16, 2025
Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Former Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Fathers' Involvement 4 Years Later: A Qualitative Study
1School of Nursing, College of Health, Idaho State University, ID, United States of America.
Insights
Fathers of former Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) infants develop confidence and closeness through vigilance and adjustments. This pattern is crucial for fathering children with disabilities.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care outcomes
- Pediatric psychology
- Family studies
Background:
- Previous hospitalization in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) can impact long-term family dynamics.
- Understanding the fathering experience is vital for supporting child development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the long-term fathering experience of individuals whose infants previously required NICU hospitalization.
- To understand the fathering journey four years after NICU discharge.
Main Methods:
- Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nineteen fathers of former NICU infants.
- Qualitative analysis of interviews identified key themes in the fathering experience.
Main Results:
- Fathers reported developing closeness and confidence with their children.
- Key themes included making life adjustments, being prepared for health issues, ambivalent normalcy, and vigilance.
- Most fathers (84%) had children with ongoing health issues.
Conclusions:
- The fathering involvement and confidence pattern is critical for raising children with disabilities.
- Pediatric practitioners should support this pattern post-hospitalization.
Purpose:
To explore the experience of fathering a previous Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) infant four years after hospitalization.
Design And Methods:
Nineteen fathers of former NICU infants were interviewed using a semi-structured schedule.
Results:
Most of the fathers had children with ongoing health issues (84%). The median age of the fathers was 38 years old. Racial demographics included 12 white fathers (63%), 5 black fathers (26%), and 2 Hispanic fathers (11%). Themes that emerged included adjustments, prepared for anything, closeness, ambivalent normalcy, and vigilance. These fathers of former infants with health issues made 'adjustments' in their lives to be available and better fathers for their children. They familiarized themselves with their children's ongoing health issues so they could be better protectors and be 'prepared for anything', but considered their children 'normal kids' while still maintaining 'vigilance' for future health needs. Fathers described that the experience of having an infant with health issues helped them to develop 'closeness' with the child and boosted their confidence as fathers.
Conclusion:
This involvement/confidence pattern is critically important to establishing and maintaining fathering, especially for fathers of children with disabilities.
Practice Implications:
Pediatric practitioners can continue to encourage this pattern after the initial hospital stay.
More Related Videos
11:50Clinical Practice Protocol of Creative Music Therapy for Preterm Infants and Their Parents in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Published on: January 7, 2020
05:04A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect
Published on: September 22, 2023
Related Concept Videos
01:28Relationship with Parents: Attachment
00:55Parental Care
01:20Attachment