Mother‐to‐infant and father‐to‐infant initial emotional involvement

Abstract

While infant attachment has been largely studied, parental attachment is still relatively unknown, 
\nespecially when referred to fathers. However, it is mainly recognised that parents’ emotional involvement 
\nwith the newborn contributes to the quality of the interaction and the care they provide. The 
\naim of this study was to study mother-to-infant and father-to-infant initial emotional involvement; 
\nnamely, differences between mothers and fathers and changes in mother’s emotions toward the 
\nneonate within the first days after delivery. The Bonding Scale, an extended Portuguese version of 
\nthe ‘New Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale’, was administered during the first two days after childbirth 
\nto a sample of 315 mothers and 141 fathers (n = 456), at the Júlio Dinis Maternity Hospital 
\n(Portugal). Most mothers and fathers show positive emotions and only a few of them showed 
\nnegative emotions toward the infant. Maternal and paternal emotional involvement toward the 
\nnewborn tend to be similar; nevertheless, fathers show less fear and better emotional involvement 
\nwith the neonate, while mothers are sadder and show more emotions not related to bonding. During 
\nthe first days following delivery, emotions not related to bonding, such as fear, seem to decrease in 
\nmothers.