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    Aust Fam Physician. 2006 Sep;35(9):690-2.

    What about dad? Psychosocial and mental health issues for new fathers.

    Source

    Department of Psychiatry, Repatriation Hospital, Daw Park, South Australia. john.condon@rgh.sa.gov.au

    Abstract

    BACKGROUND:

    Although motherhood and the mother-infant bond have been extensively researched, the same is not true for fatherhood and the father-infant bond.

    OBJECTIVE:

    This article discusses the psychological tasks of the expectant father, the adjustment issues for men during their partners pregnancy and the postnatal period, and the development of the father-infant bond.

    DISCUSSION:

    The 9 months of pregnancy are conceptualised as a time of psychological preparation for the first time expectant father. Four psychological tasks of this period are described with guidelines regarding how a health professional might assess and foster progress. In the postnatal period, 10% of new fathers will have a partner suffering from postnatal depression and the male response to this can positively or negatively influence recovery. This article concludes that the father-infant relationship is influenced by the partner relationship as well as the fathers psychological wellbeing.

    PMID:
    16969437
    [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
    Free full text

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