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Updated: Jul 9, 2025

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Mind-mindedness and styles of interaction of young fathers with their infants at three months: a pilot study

Elena Ierardi1,2, Simona Fantoni1, Margherita Moioli2

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.

BMC Psychology
|December 7, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Young fathers exhibit risk factors in interactions, showing low sensitivity and responsiveness. Early interventions are crucial to support father-infant relationships and child development.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Paternal Studies
  • Infant Behavior

Background:

  • Young fatherhood often involves multiproblematic backgrounds and risk factors.
  • These factors can negatively impact father-child relationships, paternal well-being, and infant social-emotional development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate paternal interaction styles and mentalization in young fathers.
  • To compare these variables with those of adolescent and young mothers.
  • To assess the interaction quality in early father-infant relationships.

Main Methods:

  • Pilot study involving 22 young fathers and their 3-month-old infants.
  • Comparison with 22 adolescent and young mothers (fathers' partners).
  • Parent-infant interactions coded using the Care-Index and Mind-Mindedness system.

Main Results:

  • Young fathers displayed high controlling behaviors and low sensitivity, indicating a risk range.
  • Infants showed high passive and low cooperative behaviors, also a high-risk range.
  • Young fathers made more nonattuned mind-related comments than mothers.

Conclusions:

  • Low responsiveness and mentalization characterize young father-infant interactions.
  • Early interventions are valuable for supporting father-child relationships.
  • Enhancing paternal sensitivity and mentalization is key for infant development.
Abstract

Keywords:
Adolescent and young fatherFather-infant interactionPaternal mind-mindednessPaternal sensitivity

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