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"Understanding Fathers' Bonding With Preterm Infants: Influencing Fathers and Infants' Variables"

Nisreen Alnuaimi1, Lisa Bratzke1, Tonya Roberts1

  • 1School of Nursing, University of Wisconsin Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.

Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing : JSPN
|March 14, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Fathers of preterm infants in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) show average bonding levels. Low income, prior preterm births, and multiple births are linked to lower father-infant bonding.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal care
  • Parent-infant bonding
  • Psychosocial support

Background:

  • Fathers' bonding with preterm infants in NICUs is crucial but not well understood.
  • Identifying at-risk fathers is essential for timely nursing interventions.
  • This study addresses the gap in knowledge regarding paternal bonding with preterm infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the bonding levels of fathers with preterm infants in NICUs.
  • To examine associations between father and infant variables and paternal bonding.
  • To inform nursing practices for supporting fathers of preterm infants.

Main Methods:

  • Secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional study involving 396 fathers.
  • Data collected via self-reported measures, including the Paternal Postnatal Attachment Scale.
  • Quantitative design used to analyze father and infant variables and bonding.

Main Results:

  • The average bonding score for fathers of preterm infants was 73.12 ± 10.32.
  • Significant associations found between low bonding and low household income, previous preterm infants, and multiple births.
  • These factors highlight specific groups of fathers at higher risk for suboptimal bonding.

Conclusions:

  • There is a clear need for enhanced support for fathers bonding with preterm infants in NICUs.
  • Nurses can implement screening tools to identify at-risk fathers.
  • Interventions such as social support referrals can improve paternal bonding outcomes.
Abstract

Keywords:
NICUbondingfatherspreterm infants

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