Mother-Baby Nurture is an innovative group program that focusses on strengthening the mother-infa... more Mother-Baby Nurture is an innovative group program that focusses on strengthening the mother-infant relationship through enhancing reflective capacity within mothers and their infants. We describe the unique combination of the features that are central to this program and present comparisons with other early parenting interventions. Infancy is a unique period of acute developmental vulnerability and dependence on a caregiver. As the caregiver is the critical regulator between infant and their environment, disturbances in the caregiver-infant relationship have heightened potential to interfere in the infant's developmental trajectory and lifelong wellbeing. Mother-Baby Nurture is a 10-week targeted group program that is currently being implemented in Western Australia, for infants and their mothers experiencing relational or emotional distress. This program provides an emotionally containing space for a mother and her infant to explore mental states. We foster curiosity in the thoughts, feelings, and behaviour (of the baby, the mother, and others), as well as reflection on attachment relationships (past and present). This therapeutic approach shares common ground with parent-infant psychotherapy and mentalization-based treatment, and is informed by attachment theory and the neurobiological science of infant development.
Development of a set of mobile phone text messages designed for new fathers. Journal Of Reproduct... more Development of a set of mobile phone text messages designed for new fathers. Journal Of Reproductive And Infant Psychology Vol. 0 , Iss. 0,0. Abstract Objective: The project aimed to test of the quality and acceptability of researcher-developed Short Message Service (SMS) messages designed to support fathers of infants aged 12 months or less. Background: The findings of previous studies suggest antenatal and post natal depression among fathers' impacts negatively on the health of family members. Method: Draft messages were first modified based on expert review. In a second phase parents (mothers n = 56; fathers n = 46; unknown n = 4) were recruited through two early childhood parenting services to rate the clarity, usefulness and relevance of the 70 SMS messages using a paper-based survey. In a third phase 15 fathers were recruited to receive texts at different times over three weeks. Results: Findings suggest that SMS items were easily understood by the majority of parents, with only 3% of responses indicating an item was 'not easily understood'. Feedback from parents indicated that negatively rated SMS messages were considered as either poorly phrased, lacking enough information or as not offering sufficient support. The majority (88%) of the SMS items were also rated as 'useful' by the parents. Conclusion: Father's responses indicated that receiving the texts at different
16 page full colour booklet for fathers - antenatally or during the first year. Covers range of t... more 16 page full colour booklet for fathers - antenatally or during the first year. Covers range of topics including pregnancy, birth, early child development, baby communication, relationships, depression & anxiety, feeding, play and sleep. Designed to be an "extended handshake" - a way of prompting engagement in fatherhood.
We report on two preliminary evaluations of a group intervention, targeting vulnerable infants an... more We report on two preliminary evaluations of a group intervention, targeting vulnerable infants and their mothers within the first 6-months postpartum. The Mother–Baby Nurture® program aims to strengthen the developing infant–mother attachment relationship by increasing maternal mentalizing. These studies were undertaken with pre-post evaluations with the mothers of infants under 10-months of age. The mother–infant dyads participated in ten 2-h group sessions. Study one (N = 69 dyads) included self-reported maternal depression, anxiety, and parenting confidence. In study two (N = 27 dyads), parenting stress and reflective functioning were measured by self-report, and reflective functioning coded on the 5 min speech sample (completed by N = 22). Results from study one confirmed a decrease in depression (p < .001, d = .79) and anxiety (p < .001, d = .72) symptoms, and an increase in mothers’ scores for parenting confidence (p < .001, d = −.98). Results from Study Two demonstrated a significant decrease in parenting stress (p < .001, d = .94) and significant improvement in measures of self-report reflective functioning (p = .007, .024; d = .56, .61). These findings are preliminary yet promising indications that this program could be effective in alleviating parenting stress, depression, and anxiety, and improving mother's reflective functioning and parenting confidence. Further research is needed, with a control group and long-term follow-up assessments.
While past research on the care of infants has been mostly with mothers, in recent times there ha... more While past research on the care of infants has been mostly with mothers, in recent times there has been a renewed attention to the father–infant relationship. This study examined differences between mother and father parental reflective functioning (PRF) or parental mentalizing; that is, the parental capacity to reason about their own and their children’s behaviors by taking into consideration intentional mental states. Data were collected from 120 couples with a 1-year-old child who were participants in the West Australian Peel Child Health Study. Parental mentalizing was assessed using the Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (PRFQ; Luyten, Mayes, Nijssens, & Fonagy, 2017). Results showed that mother and father mentalizing with their children was independent and that mothers scored slightly higher levels of mentalizing than did fathers. Paternal mentalizing was weakly associated with family income and father education, and was more strongly associated with family functioning than with maternal mentalizing. Implications for theorizing on PRF and fatherhood more generally are discussed.
Past research on the care of infants has been mostly with mothers. More research is therefore nee... more Past research on the care of infants has been mostly with mothers. More research is therefore needed on the father-infant relationship. This study examined a self-report measure of fathers' mentalizing or parental reflective functioning (PRF): the parental capacity to reason about their own and their child's behaviours by taking into consideration intentional mental states. Increasingly, researchers and practitioners are utilizing the concept of parental mentalizing as a means to conceptualize the infant-parent relationship. Measurement of this capacity with interview methods is costly and impractical for large investigations. The recently developed Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (PRFQ) is a promising instrument that provides insights into the father-infant relationship. Three subscales of the PRFQ assess subdimensions of PRF, i.e., interest and curiosity in mental states, certainty of mental states and pre-mentalizing modes.
Method
Mothers and Fathers of one-year old children (N = 120 couples) completed the PRFQ as part of a birth cohort population study: the Peel Child Health Study in Western Australia. Correlations were performed between the PRFQ subscales, parent/family demographics and ratings of family functioning. These correlations were examined for differences between mothers and fathers.
Results
Father mentalizing was more closely associated with demographic and family characteristics than mother mentalizing. Of particular interest was a moderating effect of the child's gender on the association between father PRF and mother rating of family functioning, such that only for parents of boys did higher levels of PRF correspond with mother reports of healthier family functioning. Also, fathers who spent longer time with their infants tended to score higher for interest and curiosity in mental states and lower for pre-mentalizing modes.
Conclusions
Father mentalizing with his infant appears be more influenced by demographic and family characteristics than mother-infant mentalizing.
Infant & Early Childhood Social & Emo4onal Wellbeing Conference: Canberra, Nov 2013
Parental Reflective Functioning (PRF) was assessed using the Parent Development Interview (PDI-RF... more Parental Reflective Functioning (PRF) was assessed using the Parent Development Interview (PDI-RF with 40 couples) and the Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire -1 (PRFQ with approx. 120 couples) in the context of the W.A. longitudinal Peel Child Health Study.
Association with measures of parental mental health, parenting characteristics, and family adjustment are examined.
Context
To date, most attachment research has focused on the mother-infant dyad. Yet, during inf... more Context
To date, most attachment research has focused on the mother-infant dyad. Yet, during infancy, most children are understood to form an attachment relationship with more than one caregiver. The role of fathers was noted in the earliest studies of attachment, and the strength of the father-infant attachment was considered to be disproportionate to the frequency of his interaction with the baby. More research is needed on the nature and quality of the father-infant relationship. The focus of two local research projects is the capacity of fathers to reason about their own and their child’s behaviours by taking into consideration intentional mental states. These projects are currently measuring mother and father levels of Parental Reflective Functioning (PRF) using the Parent Development Interview (PDI-RF) and the new Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (PQRF), in the context of the longitudinal Peel Child Health Study.
Objectives
To present preliminary quantitative and qualitative findings, and process issues with respect to researching reflective functioning with fathers.
Key Messages
Unlike the relatively stable, primarily biologically defined role of the mother, the definition or expression of fatherhood can fluctuate widely and is largely dependent on cultural and societal influences. This variability in the fathering role together with evidence demonstrating the importance of the father child relationship, accentuates the need to investigate the social and personal factors that can impede fathers connecting well with their children.
Conclusion
A better understanding of father’s PRF is likely to assist in the development of more ‘family-friendly’ services or interventions and Government policies that target the specific needs of fathers and their children.
To date, most attachment and early parenting research has focused on the mother-infant dyad, as h... more To date, most attachment and early parenting research has focused on the mother-infant dyad, as have parenting interventions aimed at improving child development outcomes. Yet most children are understood to form an attachment relationship with more than one caregiver, and notably, the strength of the father-infant attachment has been considered to be disproportionate to the frequency of his interaction with the baby. The focus of a local research project (part of the Peel Child Health Study) is to investigate the capacity of fathers to reason about their own and their child’s behaviours by taking into consideration intentional mental states (e.g. thoughts, feelings, intentions, beliefs); this is referred to as Parental Reflective Functioning (PRF). Preliminary findings of this project will be presented as well as implications for fathering assessment and interventions. Relevant literature will also be reviewed; considering how the concept of PRF applies in parenting services. Participants of this workshop will have opportunity to brainstorm regarding their experience and opinions of how PRF influences fathering and its application to fatherhood interventions. Through workshopping various aspects of PRF, participants will be better understand and develop skills for working with parents. This presentation builds on the session Dawson offered in 2009 - The Importance of Reflective Functioning in the Role of the Father in Child Development.
Context
To date, most attachment research has focused on the mother-infant dyad. Yet, during infa... more Context To date, most attachment research has focused on the mother-infant dyad. Yet, during infancy, most children are understood to form an attachment relationship with more than one caregiver. The role of fathers was noted in the earliest studies of attachment, and the strength of the father-infant attachment was considered to be disproportionate to the frequency of his interaction with the baby. More research is needed on the nature and quality of the father-infant relationship. An emerging area of research involves a reformulation of how early social relationships impact child development. Building upon the relational approach of attachment theory, the quality of early social experiences is today argued to determine the depth of an individual’s capacity to process information concerning mental states. This capacity is in many ways similar to the ability termed Theory of Mind, and is referred to as Mentalising or Reflective Functioning. The focus of this current project is the capacity of mothers and fathers to reason about their own and their child’s behaviours by taking into consideration intentional mental states. Reflective Functioning (PRF) was assessed using the Parent Development Interview (PDI-RF) and the Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire -1 (PRFQ-1; Luyten et al., 2009), in the context of the longitudinal Peel Child Health Study (Australia). The recently developed PRFQ-1 is currently being used in research with various international samples to examine its psychometric properties.
Objectives This project has undertaken to examine the psychometric properties of the PRFQ with mothers and fathers in the Peel Child Health Study using Rasch analysis.
Key Messages Unlike the relatively stable, primarily biologically defined role of the mother, the definition or expression of fatherhood can fluctuate widely and is largely dependent on cultural and societal influences. This variability in the fathering role together with evidence demonstrating the importance of the father child relationship, accentuates the need to investigate the social and personal factors that can impede or support fathers connecting well with their children.
Conclusion A better understanding of father’s PRF and its assessment is likely to assist in the development of more ‘family-friendly’ services or interventions and Government policies that target the specific needs of fathers and their children. This poster presents some preliminary findings.
Previous research has not explored how romantic attachment, mindfulness and empathy uniquely cont... more Previous research has not explored how romantic attachment, mindfulness and empathy uniquely contribute to relationship satisfaction. This study investigated predictors of relationship satisfaction with an Australian sample of 18-25 year olds (N = 211) using hierarchical multiple regression. The overall model accounted for a significant amount of variance, however, only gender, self-rated empathy and perceived partner empathy accounted for unique variance in relationship satisfaction. Factor analyses of the Revised Experience of Close Relationships (ECR-R) questionnaire showed spurious factor structure, and subsequent Rasch analyses indicated areas of refinement required for this measure. The shared variance between the predictors is suggested to indicate a common underlying variable of mentalizing capacity – the ability to attend to states of mind in oneself and others.
Neonatal, Paediatric and Child Health Nursing , Nov 2012
Aim: The study aim was to hear the male voice describing the experience of PND and to develop a c... more Aim: The study aim was to hear the male voice describing the experience of PND and to develop a conceptual framework, which would explain this experience.
Background: Given the relatively large body of research on the nature of postnatal depression (PND) from the woman’s perspective, and the general movement towards family-centred practice, it seemed timely to undertake a study that concentrated on the male experience of having a partner with PND. Method: Seven men whose partners were currently experiencing, or who had recently experienced moderate to severe PND, participated in unstructured interviews. Grounded theory methodology was used to explore the male experience of living with a partner suffering from PND.
Results: Data analysis revealed four categories in the process of living through the experience of a partner’s PND: ‘out of control’, ‘coming to the realisation’, ‘making sense of it’, and ‘the road to recovery’. The core variable, ‘surviving PND’ integrates the categories and encapsulates the process of transition experienced by the men.
Conclusions: The consequences of ‘surviving PND’ are explained by the men as both losses and gains. For some men there was a sense of vulnerability and emotional drain because they had poured so much energy and self into the women and her needs for recovery. ‘Surviving PND’ also had significant impact on the relationship, both in a positive and negative way. In addition, all men developed an increased understanding and gained personal insight into themselves, their partner, and people in general.
Implications for clinical practice: This research increases our understanding of the male experience of PND, and may be drawn on to inform the practice of nurses and other health care or early parenting professionals.
The psychometric properties of the General Functioning subscale of the McMaster Family Assessment... more The psychometric properties of the General Functioning subscale of the McMaster Family Assessment Device were examined using the Rasch Model (N = 237 couples). Mothers’ and fathers’ ratings of the General Functioning subscale of the McMaster Family Assessment Device are recommended, provided these are analyzed separately. More than a quarter of couples differed significantly in their ratings.
Men’s perceived strengths during the transition to fatherhood were explored from interviews with ... more Men’s perceived strengths during the transition to fatherhood were explored from interviews with 10 first-time fathers of 2–12 month-old children. Adopting the principles of positive psychology, this qualitative research identified aspects of men’s positive experience in fatherhood. Seven key fatherhood strengths themes were identified: shared parental responsibility, complementarity, adaptability, philosophical outlook, self development, generative care, and bonding with the child. These strengths were mediated by five contextual factors: couple relationship, work conditions, social influences, health of family members and age/maturity. Comparisons are made with other strengths models. These findings give insight into the positive experience of fatherhood and can be used as a resource by practitioners working with fathers from both a family strengths and solution–focused perspective.
An Early Years Project: Research findings of an intervention including Fathers while working with... more An Early Years Project: Research findings of an intervention including Fathers while working with families experiencing Postnatal Depression
A high proportion of men attend antenatal classes prior to the birth of their first child. These ... more A high proportion of men attend antenatal classes prior to the birth of their first child. These classes present a rare opportunity to engage with fathers at an early stage of their parenting development, assisting them to develop positive parenting attitudes and strategies – potentially increasing father involvement and enjoyment in parenting, reducing parenting stress, and risk to child health. In May 2001 Hey Dad WA (Ngala) began its involvement in antenatal classes at a Perth metropolitan hospital in Western Australia. This project now involves three public hospitals, with a male facilitator attending a single one-hour session with men from every antenatal group. This involvement averages two to three sessions each week, with an average group size of eight men. In addition to creating an open discussion around fatherhood, the following topics are initiated by the presenter with questions prompting discussion and information presented throughout the conversation. • Sleep , crying & baby communication • Breastfeeding • Postnatal Depression(PND), work/family balance, couple relationship & intimacy, early child development. Results will be presented from a survey of 670 antenatal fathers over 20 months – revealing insights into the strengths of the program and the men’s feedback.
This paper considers the ways men succeed or grow stronger (strengths perspectives) in the transi... more This paper considers the ways men succeed or grow stronger (strengths perspectives) in the transition to fatherhood. Becoming a father is a normative life event for a man that presents a unique opportunity for developmental growth. This aspect of fatherhood has rarely been addressed in psychological literature despite the growing interest in fatherhood and strengths perspectives. An overview is given of fathering literature with attention to the transition to fatherhood, positive outcomes and strengths, and recent Australian studies. Models and classifications of strengths are introduced, including findings from the positive psychology movement (C. Peterson & M. E. P. Seligman, 2004) and family strengths model (J. DeFrain, 1999). Finally, applications of strengths perspectives to the transition to fatherhood are discussed, and suggestions are made regarding future research.
There is evidence that working non-standard hours can impact on health and developmental outcomes... more There is evidence that working non-standard hours can impact on health and developmental outcomes for the workers themselves and their families. In Western Australia it is relatively common for men to work away from home for extended periods of time in the mining industry. These fly-in fly-out (FIFO) workers are thought to be especially vulnerable to psychological disturbances and relationship problems that affect themselves and their families. This study uses data from a longitudinal pregnancy cohort study to examine mental health and relationship adjustment in FIFO and non-FIFO men and their partners during pregnancy. It is of interest to know if FIFO men or their partners tend to report higher rates of: mental health difficulties (stress, anxiety or depression); couple or family relationship difficulties; and job dissatisfaction.
The Peel Child Health Study (www.peelchildhealthstudy.com.au) recruited 450 women at 18-weeks in pregnancy and follow-ups were completed at 26 weeks and 34 weeks of pregnancy and at the birth of the child. A total of 289 couples completed questionnaires administered at the time of recruitment, which included 70 men that identified as working away from home (FIFO) as part of their job.
Pregnancy is a time of heightened risk of social and emotional health difficulties for men and women, however this period of vulnerability has received little attention in FIFO literature. This study seeks to inform industry and workforce policy makers of the potential risks and challenges of the FIFO lifestyle. It is anticipated that the results will inform employers as well as those who provide support services and build a better understanding of potential strengths or vulnerabilities for FIFO families.
Mother-Baby Nurture is an innovative group program that focusses on strengthening the mother-infa... more Mother-Baby Nurture is an innovative group program that focusses on strengthening the mother-infant relationship through enhancing reflective capacity within mothers and their infants. We describe the unique combination of the features that are central to this program and present comparisons with other early parenting interventions. Infancy is a unique period of acute developmental vulnerability and dependence on a caregiver. As the caregiver is the critical regulator between infant and their environment, disturbances in the caregiver-infant relationship have heightened potential to interfere in the infant's developmental trajectory and lifelong wellbeing. Mother-Baby Nurture is a 10-week targeted group program that is currently being implemented in Western Australia, for infants and their mothers experiencing relational or emotional distress. This program provides an emotionally containing space for a mother and her infant to explore mental states. We foster curiosity in the thoughts, feelings, and behaviour (of the baby, the mother, and others), as well as reflection on attachment relationships (past and present). This therapeutic approach shares common ground with parent-infant psychotherapy and mentalization-based treatment, and is informed by attachment theory and the neurobiological science of infant development.
Development of a set of mobile phone text messages designed for new fathers. Journal Of Reproduct... more Development of a set of mobile phone text messages designed for new fathers. Journal Of Reproductive And Infant Psychology Vol. 0 , Iss. 0,0. Abstract Objective: The project aimed to test of the quality and acceptability of researcher-developed Short Message Service (SMS) messages designed to support fathers of infants aged 12 months or less. Background: The findings of previous studies suggest antenatal and post natal depression among fathers' impacts negatively on the health of family members. Method: Draft messages were first modified based on expert review. In a second phase parents (mothers n = 56; fathers n = 46; unknown n = 4) were recruited through two early childhood parenting services to rate the clarity, usefulness and relevance of the 70 SMS messages using a paper-based survey. In a third phase 15 fathers were recruited to receive texts at different times over three weeks. Results: Findings suggest that SMS items were easily understood by the majority of parents, with only 3% of responses indicating an item was 'not easily understood'. Feedback from parents indicated that negatively rated SMS messages were considered as either poorly phrased, lacking enough information or as not offering sufficient support. The majority (88%) of the SMS items were also rated as 'useful' by the parents. Conclusion: Father's responses indicated that receiving the texts at different
16 page full colour booklet for fathers - antenatally or during the first year. Covers range of t... more 16 page full colour booklet for fathers - antenatally or during the first year. Covers range of topics including pregnancy, birth, early child development, baby communication, relationships, depression & anxiety, feeding, play and sleep. Designed to be an "extended handshake" - a way of prompting engagement in fatherhood.
We report on two preliminary evaluations of a group intervention, targeting vulnerable infants an... more We report on two preliminary evaluations of a group intervention, targeting vulnerable infants and their mothers within the first 6-months postpartum. The Mother–Baby Nurture® program aims to strengthen the developing infant–mother attachment relationship by increasing maternal mentalizing. These studies were undertaken with pre-post evaluations with the mothers of infants under 10-months of age. The mother–infant dyads participated in ten 2-h group sessions. Study one (N = 69 dyads) included self-reported maternal depression, anxiety, and parenting confidence. In study two (N = 27 dyads), parenting stress and reflective functioning were measured by self-report, and reflective functioning coded on the 5 min speech sample (completed by N = 22). Results from study one confirmed a decrease in depression (p < .001, d = .79) and anxiety (p < .001, d = .72) symptoms, and an increase in mothers’ scores for parenting confidence (p < .001, d = −.98). Results from Study Two demonstrated a significant decrease in parenting stress (p < .001, d = .94) and significant improvement in measures of self-report reflective functioning (p = .007, .024; d = .56, .61). These findings are preliminary yet promising indications that this program could be effective in alleviating parenting stress, depression, and anxiety, and improving mother's reflective functioning and parenting confidence. Further research is needed, with a control group and long-term follow-up assessments.
While past research on the care of infants has been mostly with mothers, in recent times there ha... more While past research on the care of infants has been mostly with mothers, in recent times there has been a renewed attention to the father–infant relationship. This study examined differences between mother and father parental reflective functioning (PRF) or parental mentalizing; that is, the parental capacity to reason about their own and their children’s behaviors by taking into consideration intentional mental states. Data were collected from 120 couples with a 1-year-old child who were participants in the West Australian Peel Child Health Study. Parental mentalizing was assessed using the Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (PRFQ; Luyten, Mayes, Nijssens, & Fonagy, 2017). Results showed that mother and father mentalizing with their children was independent and that mothers scored slightly higher levels of mentalizing than did fathers. Paternal mentalizing was weakly associated with family income and father education, and was more strongly associated with family functioning than with maternal mentalizing. Implications for theorizing on PRF and fatherhood more generally are discussed.
Past research on the care of infants has been mostly with mothers. More research is therefore nee... more Past research on the care of infants has been mostly with mothers. More research is therefore needed on the father-infant relationship. This study examined a self-report measure of fathers' mentalizing or parental reflective functioning (PRF): the parental capacity to reason about their own and their child's behaviours by taking into consideration intentional mental states. Increasingly, researchers and practitioners are utilizing the concept of parental mentalizing as a means to conceptualize the infant-parent relationship. Measurement of this capacity with interview methods is costly and impractical for large investigations. The recently developed Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (PRFQ) is a promising instrument that provides insights into the father-infant relationship. Three subscales of the PRFQ assess subdimensions of PRF, i.e., interest and curiosity in mental states, certainty of mental states and pre-mentalizing modes.
Method
Mothers and Fathers of one-year old children (N = 120 couples) completed the PRFQ as part of a birth cohort population study: the Peel Child Health Study in Western Australia. Correlations were performed between the PRFQ subscales, parent/family demographics and ratings of family functioning. These correlations were examined for differences between mothers and fathers.
Results
Father mentalizing was more closely associated with demographic and family characteristics than mother mentalizing. Of particular interest was a moderating effect of the child's gender on the association between father PRF and mother rating of family functioning, such that only for parents of boys did higher levels of PRF correspond with mother reports of healthier family functioning. Also, fathers who spent longer time with their infants tended to score higher for interest and curiosity in mental states and lower for pre-mentalizing modes.
Conclusions
Father mentalizing with his infant appears be more influenced by demographic and family characteristics than mother-infant mentalizing.
Infant & Early Childhood Social & Emo4onal Wellbeing Conference: Canberra, Nov 2013
Parental Reflective Functioning (PRF) was assessed using the Parent Development Interview (PDI-RF... more Parental Reflective Functioning (PRF) was assessed using the Parent Development Interview (PDI-RF with 40 couples) and the Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire -1 (PRFQ with approx. 120 couples) in the context of the W.A. longitudinal Peel Child Health Study.
Association with measures of parental mental health, parenting characteristics, and family adjustment are examined.
Context
To date, most attachment research has focused on the mother-infant dyad. Yet, during inf... more Context
To date, most attachment research has focused on the mother-infant dyad. Yet, during infancy, most children are understood to form an attachment relationship with more than one caregiver. The role of fathers was noted in the earliest studies of attachment, and the strength of the father-infant attachment was considered to be disproportionate to the frequency of his interaction with the baby. More research is needed on the nature and quality of the father-infant relationship. The focus of two local research projects is the capacity of fathers to reason about their own and their child’s behaviours by taking into consideration intentional mental states. These projects are currently measuring mother and father levels of Parental Reflective Functioning (PRF) using the Parent Development Interview (PDI-RF) and the new Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (PQRF), in the context of the longitudinal Peel Child Health Study.
Objectives
To present preliminary quantitative and qualitative findings, and process issues with respect to researching reflective functioning with fathers.
Key Messages
Unlike the relatively stable, primarily biologically defined role of the mother, the definition or expression of fatherhood can fluctuate widely and is largely dependent on cultural and societal influences. This variability in the fathering role together with evidence demonstrating the importance of the father child relationship, accentuates the need to investigate the social and personal factors that can impede fathers connecting well with their children.
Conclusion
A better understanding of father’s PRF is likely to assist in the development of more ‘family-friendly’ services or interventions and Government policies that target the specific needs of fathers and their children.
To date, most attachment and early parenting research has focused on the mother-infant dyad, as h... more To date, most attachment and early parenting research has focused on the mother-infant dyad, as have parenting interventions aimed at improving child development outcomes. Yet most children are understood to form an attachment relationship with more than one caregiver, and notably, the strength of the father-infant attachment has been considered to be disproportionate to the frequency of his interaction with the baby. The focus of a local research project (part of the Peel Child Health Study) is to investigate the capacity of fathers to reason about their own and their child’s behaviours by taking into consideration intentional mental states (e.g. thoughts, feelings, intentions, beliefs); this is referred to as Parental Reflective Functioning (PRF). Preliminary findings of this project will be presented as well as implications for fathering assessment and interventions. Relevant literature will also be reviewed; considering how the concept of PRF applies in parenting services. Participants of this workshop will have opportunity to brainstorm regarding their experience and opinions of how PRF influences fathering and its application to fatherhood interventions. Through workshopping various aspects of PRF, participants will be better understand and develop skills for working with parents. This presentation builds on the session Dawson offered in 2009 - The Importance of Reflective Functioning in the Role of the Father in Child Development.
Context
To date, most attachment research has focused on the mother-infant dyad. Yet, during infa... more Context To date, most attachment research has focused on the mother-infant dyad. Yet, during infancy, most children are understood to form an attachment relationship with more than one caregiver. The role of fathers was noted in the earliest studies of attachment, and the strength of the father-infant attachment was considered to be disproportionate to the frequency of his interaction with the baby. More research is needed on the nature and quality of the father-infant relationship. An emerging area of research involves a reformulation of how early social relationships impact child development. Building upon the relational approach of attachment theory, the quality of early social experiences is today argued to determine the depth of an individual’s capacity to process information concerning mental states. This capacity is in many ways similar to the ability termed Theory of Mind, and is referred to as Mentalising or Reflective Functioning. The focus of this current project is the capacity of mothers and fathers to reason about their own and their child’s behaviours by taking into consideration intentional mental states. Reflective Functioning (PRF) was assessed using the Parent Development Interview (PDI-RF) and the Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire -1 (PRFQ-1; Luyten et al., 2009), in the context of the longitudinal Peel Child Health Study (Australia). The recently developed PRFQ-1 is currently being used in research with various international samples to examine its psychometric properties.
Objectives This project has undertaken to examine the psychometric properties of the PRFQ with mothers and fathers in the Peel Child Health Study using Rasch analysis.
Key Messages Unlike the relatively stable, primarily biologically defined role of the mother, the definition or expression of fatherhood can fluctuate widely and is largely dependent on cultural and societal influences. This variability in the fathering role together with evidence demonstrating the importance of the father child relationship, accentuates the need to investigate the social and personal factors that can impede or support fathers connecting well with their children.
Conclusion A better understanding of father’s PRF and its assessment is likely to assist in the development of more ‘family-friendly’ services or interventions and Government policies that target the specific needs of fathers and their children. This poster presents some preliminary findings.
Previous research has not explored how romantic attachment, mindfulness and empathy uniquely cont... more Previous research has not explored how romantic attachment, mindfulness and empathy uniquely contribute to relationship satisfaction. This study investigated predictors of relationship satisfaction with an Australian sample of 18-25 year olds (N = 211) using hierarchical multiple regression. The overall model accounted for a significant amount of variance, however, only gender, self-rated empathy and perceived partner empathy accounted for unique variance in relationship satisfaction. Factor analyses of the Revised Experience of Close Relationships (ECR-R) questionnaire showed spurious factor structure, and subsequent Rasch analyses indicated areas of refinement required for this measure. The shared variance between the predictors is suggested to indicate a common underlying variable of mentalizing capacity – the ability to attend to states of mind in oneself and others.
Neonatal, Paediatric and Child Health Nursing , Nov 2012
Aim: The study aim was to hear the male voice describing the experience of PND and to develop a c... more Aim: The study aim was to hear the male voice describing the experience of PND and to develop a conceptual framework, which would explain this experience.
Background: Given the relatively large body of research on the nature of postnatal depression (PND) from the woman’s perspective, and the general movement towards family-centred practice, it seemed timely to undertake a study that concentrated on the male experience of having a partner with PND. Method: Seven men whose partners were currently experiencing, or who had recently experienced moderate to severe PND, participated in unstructured interviews. Grounded theory methodology was used to explore the male experience of living with a partner suffering from PND.
Results: Data analysis revealed four categories in the process of living through the experience of a partner’s PND: ‘out of control’, ‘coming to the realisation’, ‘making sense of it’, and ‘the road to recovery’. The core variable, ‘surviving PND’ integrates the categories and encapsulates the process of transition experienced by the men.
Conclusions: The consequences of ‘surviving PND’ are explained by the men as both losses and gains. For some men there was a sense of vulnerability and emotional drain because they had poured so much energy and self into the women and her needs for recovery. ‘Surviving PND’ also had significant impact on the relationship, both in a positive and negative way. In addition, all men developed an increased understanding and gained personal insight into themselves, their partner, and people in general.
Implications for clinical practice: This research increases our understanding of the male experience of PND, and may be drawn on to inform the practice of nurses and other health care or early parenting professionals.
The psychometric properties of the General Functioning subscale of the McMaster Family Assessment... more The psychometric properties of the General Functioning subscale of the McMaster Family Assessment Device were examined using the Rasch Model (N = 237 couples). Mothers’ and fathers’ ratings of the General Functioning subscale of the McMaster Family Assessment Device are recommended, provided these are analyzed separately. More than a quarter of couples differed significantly in their ratings.
Men’s perceived strengths during the transition to fatherhood were explored from interviews with ... more Men’s perceived strengths during the transition to fatherhood were explored from interviews with 10 first-time fathers of 2–12 month-old children. Adopting the principles of positive psychology, this qualitative research identified aspects of men’s positive experience in fatherhood. Seven key fatherhood strengths themes were identified: shared parental responsibility, complementarity, adaptability, philosophical outlook, self development, generative care, and bonding with the child. These strengths were mediated by five contextual factors: couple relationship, work conditions, social influences, health of family members and age/maturity. Comparisons are made with other strengths models. These findings give insight into the positive experience of fatherhood and can be used as a resource by practitioners working with fathers from both a family strengths and solution–focused perspective.
An Early Years Project: Research findings of an intervention including Fathers while working with... more An Early Years Project: Research findings of an intervention including Fathers while working with families experiencing Postnatal Depression
A high proportion of men attend antenatal classes prior to the birth of their first child. These ... more A high proportion of men attend antenatal classes prior to the birth of their first child. These classes present a rare opportunity to engage with fathers at an early stage of their parenting development, assisting them to develop positive parenting attitudes and strategies – potentially increasing father involvement and enjoyment in parenting, reducing parenting stress, and risk to child health. In May 2001 Hey Dad WA (Ngala) began its involvement in antenatal classes at a Perth metropolitan hospital in Western Australia. This project now involves three public hospitals, with a male facilitator attending a single one-hour session with men from every antenatal group. This involvement averages two to three sessions each week, with an average group size of eight men. In addition to creating an open discussion around fatherhood, the following topics are initiated by the presenter with questions prompting discussion and information presented throughout the conversation. • Sleep , crying & baby communication • Breastfeeding • Postnatal Depression(PND), work/family balance, couple relationship & intimacy, early child development. Results will be presented from a survey of 670 antenatal fathers over 20 months – revealing insights into the strengths of the program and the men’s feedback.
This paper considers the ways men succeed or grow stronger (strengths perspectives) in the transi... more This paper considers the ways men succeed or grow stronger (strengths perspectives) in the transition to fatherhood. Becoming a father is a normative life event for a man that presents a unique opportunity for developmental growth. This aspect of fatherhood has rarely been addressed in psychological literature despite the growing interest in fatherhood and strengths perspectives. An overview is given of fathering literature with attention to the transition to fatherhood, positive outcomes and strengths, and recent Australian studies. Models and classifications of strengths are introduced, including findings from the positive psychology movement (C. Peterson & M. E. P. Seligman, 2004) and family strengths model (J. DeFrain, 1999). Finally, applications of strengths perspectives to the transition to fatherhood are discussed, and suggestions are made regarding future research.
There is evidence that working non-standard hours can impact on health and developmental outcomes... more There is evidence that working non-standard hours can impact on health and developmental outcomes for the workers themselves and their families. In Western Australia it is relatively common for men to work away from home for extended periods of time in the mining industry. These fly-in fly-out (FIFO) workers are thought to be especially vulnerable to psychological disturbances and relationship problems that affect themselves and their families. This study uses data from a longitudinal pregnancy cohort study to examine mental health and relationship adjustment in FIFO and non-FIFO men and their partners during pregnancy. It is of interest to know if FIFO men or their partners tend to report higher rates of: mental health difficulties (stress, anxiety or depression); couple or family relationship difficulties; and job dissatisfaction.
The Peel Child Health Study (www.peelchildhealthstudy.com.au) recruited 450 women at 18-weeks in pregnancy and follow-ups were completed at 26 weeks and 34 weeks of pregnancy and at the birth of the child. A total of 289 couples completed questionnaires administered at the time of recruitment, which included 70 men that identified as working away from home (FIFO) as part of their job.
Pregnancy is a time of heightened risk of social and emotional health difficulties for men and women, however this period of vulnerability has received little attention in FIFO literature. This study seeks to inform industry and workforce policy makers of the potential risks and challenges of the FIFO lifestyle. It is anticipated that the results will inform employers as well as those who provide support services and build a better understanding of potential strengths or vulnerabilities for FIFO families.
Over recent decades, numerous reports and studies have
demonstrated the important role of the fa... more Over recent decades, numerous reports and studies have
demonstrated the important role of the father in families and in
children’s development. However, positive father involvement
is difficult to define and fatherhood research often has inherent
methodological challenges. This presentation will provide an
overview of theories, models and research evidence that shed
light on the father-infant relationship and its influence on child
development. Dawson recently presented his research at the
WAIMH Congress in Edinburgh and the Mentalization-Based-
Treatment Congress in Netherlands.
Ngala's HeyDadWA program has been providing men's antenatal education in the community and in par... more Ngala's HeyDadWA program has been providing men's antenatal education in the community and in partnership with three Perth hospitals for 1 0 years. This symposium presents an opportunity to reflect on that ten years of service provision, and to ask, "What have we learned from this?" Exploring this question will present learnings for future directions for men's antenatal services, and ideas to be applied more broadly to Father Inclusive Practice. The presentation will briefly examine the history and service rationale for establishing men's antenatal services, it will explore current models utilised and look at any changes which have occurred and why. This will involve examining both the content and process of the men's antenatal sessions, as well as how and why collaborations have worked with the partner organisations. Importantly, evidence gathered from dads' feedback and facilitators, will be presented to inform what is working now, and what could be improved, in terms of current practices. This reflection of the whole process is hoped to provide insight to those involved in antenatal education into the changing cultural expectations, and a glimpse to future trends and challenges for dads antenatal education.
Context
To date, most attachment research has focused on the mother-infant dyad. Yet, during infa... more Context To date, most attachment research has focused on the mother-infant dyad. Yet, during infancy, most children are understood to form an attachment relationship with more than one caregiver. The role of fathers was noted in the earliest studies of attachment, and the strength of the father-infant attachment was considered to be disproportionate to the frequency of his interaction with the baby. More research is needed on the nature and quality of the father-infant relationship. An emerging area of research involves a reformulation of how early social relationships impact child development. Building upon the relational approach of attachment theory, the quality of early social experiences is today argued to determine the depth of an individual’s capacity to process information concerning mental states. This capacity is in many ways similar to the ability termed Theory of Mind, and is referred to as Mentalising or Reflective Functioning. The focus of this current project is the capacity of mothers and fathers to reason about their own and their child’s behaviours by taking into consideration intentional mental states. Reflective Functioning (PRF) was assessed using the Parent Development Interview (PDI-RF) and the Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire -1 (PRFQ-1; Luyten et al., 2009), in the context of the longitudinal Peel Child Health Study (Australia). The recently developed PRFQ-1 is currently being used in research with various international samples to examine its psychometric properties.
Objectives This project has undertaken to examine the psychometric properties of the PRFQ with mothers and fathers in the Peel Child Health Study using Rasch analysis.
Key Messages Unlike the relatively stable, primarily biologically defined role of the mother, the definition or expression of fatherhood can fluctuate widely and is largely dependent on cultural and societal influences. This variability in the fathering role together with evidence demonstrating the importance of the father child relationship, accentuates the need to investigate the social and personal factors that can impede or support fathers connecting well with their children.
Conclusion A better understanding of father’s PRF and its assessment is likely to assist in the development of more ‘family-friendly’ services or interventions and Government policies that target the specific needs of fathers and their children. This poster presents some preliminary findings.
To date, most attachment and early parenting research has focused on the mother-infant dyad, as h... more To date, most attachment and early parenting research has focused on the mother-infant dyad, as have parenting interventions aimed at improving child development outcomes. Yet most children are understood to form an attachment relationship with more than one caregiver, and notably, the strength of the father-infant attachment has been considered to be disproportionate to the frequency of his interaction with the baby. The focus of a local research project (part of the Peel Child Health Study) is to investigate the capacity of fathers to reason about their own and their child’s behaviours by taking into consideration intentional mental states (e.g. thoughts, feelings, intentions, beliefs); this is referred to as Parental Reflective Functioning (PRF). Preliminary findings of this project will be presented as well as implications for fathering assessment and interventions. Relevant literature will also be reviewed; considering how the concept of PRF applies in parenting services. Participants of this workshop will have opportunity to brainstorm regarding their experience and opinions of how PRF influences fathering and its application to fatherhood interventions. Through workshopping various aspects of PRF, participants will be better understand and develop skills for working with parents. This presentation builds on the session Dawson offered in 2009 - The Importance of Reflective Functioning in the Role of the Father in Child Development.
Context
To date, most attachment research has focused on the mother-infant dyad. Yet, during inf... more Context
To date, most attachment research has focused on the mother-infant dyad. Yet, during infancy, most children are understood to form an attachment relationship with more than one caregiver. The role of fathers was noted in the earliest studies of attachment, and the strength of the father-infant attachment was considered to be disproportionate to the frequency of his interaction with the baby. More research is needed on the nature and quality of the father-infant relationship. The focus of two local research projects is the capacity of fathers to reason about their own and their child’s behaviours by taking into consideration intentional mental states. These projects are currently measuring mother and father levels of Parental Reflective Functioning (PRF) using the Parent Development Interview (PDI-RF) and the new Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (PQRF), in the context of the longitudinal Peel Child Health Study.
Objectives
To present preliminary quantitative and qualitative findings, and process issues with respect to researching reflective functioning with fathers.
Key Messages
Unlike the relatively stable, primarily biologically defined role of the mother, the definition or expression of fatherhood can fluctuate widely and is largely dependent on cultural and societal influences. This variability in the fathering role together with evidence demonstrating the importance of the father child relationship, accentuates the need to investigate the social and personal factors that can impede fathers connecting well with their children.
Conclusion
A better understanding of father’s PRF is likely to assist in the development of more ‘family-friendly’ services or interventions and Government policies that target the specific needs of fathers and their children.
Research on the care of infants and their development has been predominantly with mothers and mor... more Research on the care of infants and their development has been predominantly with mothers and more research is needed on the nature and quality of the father-infant relationship. The focus of this cross-sectional research is the capacity of paternal mentalizing or fathers’ Parental Reflective Functioning (PRF): the parental capacity to reason about one’s own and one’s child’s behaviours by taking into consideration intentional mental states. Rasch measurement analysis and theory was used to critically examine the validity of the recently developed Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (PRFQ) for both mothers and fathers. Mothers’ and Fathers’ levels of PRF were assessed using scores based on the Parent Development Interview (PDI-RF) and self-report ratings from the 39-item PRFQ, in the context of the longitudinal Peel Child Health Study (N = 120 families). Data in this study from seven items of the PRFQ conformed to the requirements of Rasch measurement theory and this set of items is proposed to reflect a specific aspect of mentalizing: child-focused parental mentalizing (PRFQ-CF). Properties of the PRFQ-CF are described in detail and the shortcomings of other PRFQ subscales are identified. The PRFQ-CF showed marginal test-retest stability and limited convergent validity with the PDI-RF; these limitations are discussed. Parental ratings of mental health were not associated with scores on the PRFQ-CF and variance in the PRFQ-CF scores was not accounted for by demographic variables including parent age, gender of child, parent birthplace, birth order, parent education, and parent occupation. Mother and father PRFQ-CF scores were found to be unrelated (r = -.001), and mothers scored on average higher PRFQ-CF than fathers. The measurement of fathers’ PRF has the potential to advance the understanding of father-child relationships in early childhood. This aspect of the father-child relationship is fundamental for a better appreciation of the father’s role in the family and for the progress of ‘family-friendly’ government policies and interventions that target the specific needs of fathers and children.
Uploads
Method
Mothers and Fathers of one-year old children (N = 120 couples) completed the PRFQ as part of a birth cohort population study: the Peel Child Health Study in Western Australia. Correlations were performed between the PRFQ subscales, parent/family demographics and ratings of family functioning. These correlations were examined for differences between mothers and fathers.
Results
Father mentalizing was more closely associated with demographic and family characteristics than mother mentalizing. Of particular interest was a moderating effect of the child's gender on the association between father PRF and mother rating of family functioning, such that only for parents of boys did higher levels of PRF correspond with mother reports of healthier family functioning. Also, fathers who spent longer time with their infants tended to score higher for interest and curiosity in mental states and lower for pre-mentalizing modes.
Conclusions
Father mentalizing with his infant appears be more influenced by demographic and family characteristics than mother-infant mentalizing.
Association with measures of parental mental health, parenting characteristics, and family adjustment are examined.
To date, most attachment research has focused on the mother-infant dyad. Yet, during infancy, most children are understood to form an attachment relationship with more than one caregiver. The role of fathers was noted in the earliest studies of attachment, and the strength of the father-infant attachment was considered to be disproportionate to the frequency of his interaction with the baby. More research is needed on the nature and quality of the father-infant relationship. The focus of two local research projects is the capacity of fathers to reason about their own and their child’s behaviours by taking into consideration intentional mental states. These projects are currently measuring mother and father levels of Parental Reflective Functioning (PRF) using the Parent Development Interview (PDI-RF) and the new Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (PQRF), in the context of the longitudinal Peel Child Health Study.
Objectives
To present preliminary quantitative and qualitative findings, and process issues with respect to researching reflective functioning with fathers.
Key Messages
Unlike the relatively stable, primarily biologically defined role of the mother, the definition or expression of fatherhood can fluctuate widely and is largely dependent on cultural and societal influences. This variability in the fathering role together with evidence demonstrating the importance of the father child relationship, accentuates the need to investigate the social and personal factors that can impede fathers connecting well with their children.
Conclusion
A better understanding of father’s PRF is likely to assist in the development of more ‘family-friendly’ services or interventions and Government policies that target the specific needs of fathers and their children.
Preliminary findings of this project will be presented as well as implications for fathering assessment and interventions. Relevant literature will also be reviewed; considering how the concept of PRF applies in parenting services. Participants of this workshop will have opportunity to brainstorm regarding their experience and opinions of how PRF influences fathering and its application to fatherhood interventions. Through workshopping various aspects of PRF, participants will be better understand and develop skills for working with parents.
This presentation builds on the session Dawson offered in 2009 - The Importance of Reflective Functioning in the Role of the Father in Child Development.
To date, most attachment research has focused on the mother-infant dyad. Yet, during infancy, most children are understood to form an attachment relationship with more than one caregiver. The role of fathers was noted in the earliest studies of attachment, and the strength of the father-infant attachment was considered to be disproportionate to the frequency of his interaction with the baby. More research is needed on the nature and quality of the father-infant relationship.
An emerging area of research involves a reformulation of how early social relationships impact child development. Building upon the relational approach of attachment theory, the quality of early social experiences is today argued to determine the depth of an individual’s capacity to process information concerning mental states. This capacity is in many ways similar to the ability termed Theory of Mind, and is referred to as Mentalising or Reflective Functioning.
The focus of this current project is the capacity of mothers and fathers to reason about their own and their child’s behaviours by taking into consideration intentional mental states. Reflective Functioning (PRF) was assessed using the Parent Development Interview (PDI-RF) and the Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire -1 (PRFQ-1; Luyten et al., 2009), in the context of the longitudinal Peel Child Health Study (Australia). The recently developed PRFQ-1 is currently being used in research with various international samples to examine its psychometric properties.
Objectives
This project has undertaken to examine the psychometric properties of the PRFQ with mothers and fathers in the Peel Child Health Study using Rasch analysis.
Key Messages
Unlike the relatively stable, primarily biologically defined role of the mother, the definition or expression of fatherhood can fluctuate widely and is largely dependent on cultural and societal influences. This variability in the fathering role together with evidence demonstrating the importance of the father child relationship, accentuates the need to investigate the social and personal factors that can impede or support fathers connecting well with their children.
Conclusion
A better understanding of father’s PRF and its assessment is likely to assist in the development of more ‘family-friendly’ services or interventions and Government policies that target the specific needs of fathers and their children. This poster presents some preliminary findings.
Background: Given the relatively large body of research on the nature of postnatal depression (PND) from the woman’s perspective, and the general movement towards family-centred practice, it seemed timely to undertake a study that concentrated on the male experience of having a partner with PND. Method: Seven men whose partners were currently experiencing, or who had recently experienced moderate to severe PND, participated in unstructured interviews. Grounded theory methodology was used to explore the male experience of living with a partner suffering from PND.
Results: Data analysis revealed four categories in the process of living through the experience of a partner’s PND: ‘out of control’, ‘coming to the realisation’, ‘making sense of it’, and ‘the road to recovery’. The core variable, ‘surviving PND’ integrates the categories and encapsulates the process of transition experienced by the men.
Conclusions: The consequences of ‘surviving PND’ are explained by the men as both losses and gains. For some men there was a sense of vulnerability and emotional drain because they had poured so much energy and self into the women and her needs for recovery. ‘Surviving PND’ also had significant impact on the relationship, both in a positive and negative way. In addition, all men developed an increased understanding and gained personal insight into themselves, their partner, and people in general.
Implications for clinical practice: This research increases our understanding of the male experience of PND, and may be drawn on to inform the practice of nurses and other health care or early parenting professionals.
In May 2001 Hey Dad WA (Ngala) began its involvement in antenatal classes at a Perth metropolitan hospital in Western Australia. This project now involves three public hospitals, with a male facilitator attending a single one-hour session with men from every antenatal group. This involvement averages two to three sessions each week, with an average group size of eight men.
In addition to creating an open discussion around fatherhood, the following topics are initiated by the presenter with questions prompting discussion and information presented throughout the conversation.
• Sleep , crying & baby communication
• Breastfeeding
• Postnatal Depression(PND), work/family balance, couple relationship & intimacy, early child development.
Results will be presented from a survey of 670 antenatal fathers over 20 months – revealing insights into the strengths of the program and the men’s feedback.
The Peel Child Health Study (www.peelchildhealthstudy.com.au) recruited 450 women at 18-weeks in pregnancy and follow-ups were completed at 26 weeks and 34 weeks of pregnancy and at the birth of the child. A total of 289 couples completed questionnaires administered at the time of recruitment, which included 70 men that identified as working away from home (FIFO) as part of their job.
Pregnancy is a time of heightened risk of social and emotional health difficulties for men and women, however this period of vulnerability has received little attention in FIFO literature. This study seeks to inform industry and workforce policy makers of the potential risks and challenges of the FIFO lifestyle. It is anticipated that the results will inform employers as well as those who provide support services and build a better understanding of potential strengths or vulnerabilities for FIFO families.
Method
Mothers and Fathers of one-year old children (N = 120 couples) completed the PRFQ as part of a birth cohort population study: the Peel Child Health Study in Western Australia. Correlations were performed between the PRFQ subscales, parent/family demographics and ratings of family functioning. These correlations were examined for differences between mothers and fathers.
Results
Father mentalizing was more closely associated with demographic and family characteristics than mother mentalizing. Of particular interest was a moderating effect of the child's gender on the association between father PRF and mother rating of family functioning, such that only for parents of boys did higher levels of PRF correspond with mother reports of healthier family functioning. Also, fathers who spent longer time with their infants tended to score higher for interest and curiosity in mental states and lower for pre-mentalizing modes.
Conclusions
Father mentalizing with his infant appears be more influenced by demographic and family characteristics than mother-infant mentalizing.
Association with measures of parental mental health, parenting characteristics, and family adjustment are examined.
To date, most attachment research has focused on the mother-infant dyad. Yet, during infancy, most children are understood to form an attachment relationship with more than one caregiver. The role of fathers was noted in the earliest studies of attachment, and the strength of the father-infant attachment was considered to be disproportionate to the frequency of his interaction with the baby. More research is needed on the nature and quality of the father-infant relationship. The focus of two local research projects is the capacity of fathers to reason about their own and their child’s behaviours by taking into consideration intentional mental states. These projects are currently measuring mother and father levels of Parental Reflective Functioning (PRF) using the Parent Development Interview (PDI-RF) and the new Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (PQRF), in the context of the longitudinal Peel Child Health Study.
Objectives
To present preliminary quantitative and qualitative findings, and process issues with respect to researching reflective functioning with fathers.
Key Messages
Unlike the relatively stable, primarily biologically defined role of the mother, the definition or expression of fatherhood can fluctuate widely and is largely dependent on cultural and societal influences. This variability in the fathering role together with evidence demonstrating the importance of the father child relationship, accentuates the need to investigate the social and personal factors that can impede fathers connecting well with their children.
Conclusion
A better understanding of father’s PRF is likely to assist in the development of more ‘family-friendly’ services or interventions and Government policies that target the specific needs of fathers and their children.
Preliminary findings of this project will be presented as well as implications for fathering assessment and interventions. Relevant literature will also be reviewed; considering how the concept of PRF applies in parenting services. Participants of this workshop will have opportunity to brainstorm regarding their experience and opinions of how PRF influences fathering and its application to fatherhood interventions. Through workshopping various aspects of PRF, participants will be better understand and develop skills for working with parents.
This presentation builds on the session Dawson offered in 2009 - The Importance of Reflective Functioning in the Role of the Father in Child Development.
To date, most attachment research has focused on the mother-infant dyad. Yet, during infancy, most children are understood to form an attachment relationship with more than one caregiver. The role of fathers was noted in the earliest studies of attachment, and the strength of the father-infant attachment was considered to be disproportionate to the frequency of his interaction with the baby. More research is needed on the nature and quality of the father-infant relationship.
An emerging area of research involves a reformulation of how early social relationships impact child development. Building upon the relational approach of attachment theory, the quality of early social experiences is today argued to determine the depth of an individual’s capacity to process information concerning mental states. This capacity is in many ways similar to the ability termed Theory of Mind, and is referred to as Mentalising or Reflective Functioning.
The focus of this current project is the capacity of mothers and fathers to reason about their own and their child’s behaviours by taking into consideration intentional mental states. Reflective Functioning (PRF) was assessed using the Parent Development Interview (PDI-RF) and the Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire -1 (PRFQ-1; Luyten et al., 2009), in the context of the longitudinal Peel Child Health Study (Australia). The recently developed PRFQ-1 is currently being used in research with various international samples to examine its psychometric properties.
Objectives
This project has undertaken to examine the psychometric properties of the PRFQ with mothers and fathers in the Peel Child Health Study using Rasch analysis.
Key Messages
Unlike the relatively stable, primarily biologically defined role of the mother, the definition or expression of fatherhood can fluctuate widely and is largely dependent on cultural and societal influences. This variability in the fathering role together with evidence demonstrating the importance of the father child relationship, accentuates the need to investigate the social and personal factors that can impede or support fathers connecting well with their children.
Conclusion
A better understanding of father’s PRF and its assessment is likely to assist in the development of more ‘family-friendly’ services or interventions and Government policies that target the specific needs of fathers and their children. This poster presents some preliminary findings.
Background: Given the relatively large body of research on the nature of postnatal depression (PND) from the woman’s perspective, and the general movement towards family-centred practice, it seemed timely to undertake a study that concentrated on the male experience of having a partner with PND. Method: Seven men whose partners were currently experiencing, or who had recently experienced moderate to severe PND, participated in unstructured interviews. Grounded theory methodology was used to explore the male experience of living with a partner suffering from PND.
Results: Data analysis revealed four categories in the process of living through the experience of a partner’s PND: ‘out of control’, ‘coming to the realisation’, ‘making sense of it’, and ‘the road to recovery’. The core variable, ‘surviving PND’ integrates the categories and encapsulates the process of transition experienced by the men.
Conclusions: The consequences of ‘surviving PND’ are explained by the men as both losses and gains. For some men there was a sense of vulnerability and emotional drain because they had poured so much energy and self into the women and her needs for recovery. ‘Surviving PND’ also had significant impact on the relationship, both in a positive and negative way. In addition, all men developed an increased understanding and gained personal insight into themselves, their partner, and people in general.
Implications for clinical practice: This research increases our understanding of the male experience of PND, and may be drawn on to inform the practice of nurses and other health care or early parenting professionals.
In May 2001 Hey Dad WA (Ngala) began its involvement in antenatal classes at a Perth metropolitan hospital in Western Australia. This project now involves three public hospitals, with a male facilitator attending a single one-hour session with men from every antenatal group. This involvement averages two to three sessions each week, with an average group size of eight men.
In addition to creating an open discussion around fatherhood, the following topics are initiated by the presenter with questions prompting discussion and information presented throughout the conversation.
• Sleep , crying & baby communication
• Breastfeeding
• Postnatal Depression(PND), work/family balance, couple relationship & intimacy, early child development.
Results will be presented from a survey of 670 antenatal fathers over 20 months – revealing insights into the strengths of the program and the men’s feedback.
The Peel Child Health Study (www.peelchildhealthstudy.com.au) recruited 450 women at 18-weeks in pregnancy and follow-ups were completed at 26 weeks and 34 weeks of pregnancy and at the birth of the child. A total of 289 couples completed questionnaires administered at the time of recruitment, which included 70 men that identified as working away from home (FIFO) as part of their job.
Pregnancy is a time of heightened risk of social and emotional health difficulties for men and women, however this period of vulnerability has received little attention in FIFO literature. This study seeks to inform industry and workforce policy makers of the potential risks and challenges of the FIFO lifestyle. It is anticipated that the results will inform employers as well as those who provide support services and build a better understanding of potential strengths or vulnerabilities for FIFO families.
demonstrated the important role of the father in families and in
children’s development. However, positive father involvement
is difficult to define and fatherhood research often has inherent
methodological challenges. This presentation will provide an
overview of theories, models and research evidence that shed
light on the father-infant relationship and its influence on child
development. Dawson recently presented his research at the
WAIMH Congress in Edinburgh and the Mentalization-Based-
Treatment Congress in Netherlands.
To date, most attachment research has focused on the mother-infant dyad. Yet, during infancy, most children are understood to form an attachment relationship with more than one caregiver. The role of fathers was noted in the earliest studies of attachment, and the strength of the father-infant attachment was considered to be disproportionate to the frequency of his interaction with the baby. More research is needed on the nature and quality of the father-infant relationship.
An emerging area of research involves a reformulation of how early social relationships impact child development. Building upon the relational approach of attachment theory, the quality of early social experiences is today argued to determine the depth of an individual’s capacity to process information concerning mental states. This capacity is in many ways similar to the ability termed Theory of Mind, and is referred to as Mentalising or Reflective Functioning.
The focus of this current project is the capacity of mothers and fathers to reason about their own and their child’s behaviours by taking into consideration intentional mental states. Reflective Functioning (PRF) was assessed using the Parent Development Interview (PDI-RF) and the Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire -1 (PRFQ-1; Luyten et al., 2009), in the context of the longitudinal Peel Child Health Study (Australia). The recently developed PRFQ-1 is currently being used in research with various international samples to examine its psychometric properties.
Objectives
This project has undertaken to examine the psychometric properties of the PRFQ with mothers and fathers in the Peel Child Health Study using Rasch analysis.
Key Messages
Unlike the relatively stable, primarily biologically defined role of the mother, the definition or expression of fatherhood can fluctuate widely and is largely dependent on cultural and societal influences. This variability in the fathering role together with evidence demonstrating the importance of the father child relationship, accentuates the need to investigate the social and personal factors that can impede or support fathers connecting well with their children.
Conclusion
A better understanding of father’s PRF and its assessment is likely to assist in the development of more ‘family-friendly’ services or interventions and Government policies that target the specific needs of fathers and their children. This poster presents some preliminary findings.
Preliminary findings of this project will be presented as well as implications for fathering assessment and interventions. Relevant literature will also be reviewed; considering how the concept of PRF applies in parenting services. Participants of this workshop will have opportunity to brainstorm regarding their experience and opinions of how PRF influences fathering and its application to fatherhood interventions. Through workshopping various aspects of PRF, participants will be better understand and develop skills for working with parents.
This presentation builds on the session Dawson offered in 2009 - The Importance of Reflective Functioning in the Role of the Father in Child Development.
To date, most attachment research has focused on the mother-infant dyad. Yet, during infancy, most children are understood to form an attachment relationship with more than one caregiver. The role of fathers was noted in the earliest studies of attachment, and the strength of the father-infant attachment was considered to be disproportionate to the frequency of his interaction with the baby. More research is needed on the nature and quality of the father-infant relationship. The focus of two local research projects is the capacity of fathers to reason about their own and their child’s behaviours by taking into consideration intentional mental states. These projects are currently measuring mother and father levels of Parental Reflective Functioning (PRF) using the Parent Development Interview (PDI-RF) and the new Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (PQRF), in the context of the longitudinal Peel Child Health Study.
Objectives
To present preliminary quantitative and qualitative findings, and process issues with respect to researching reflective functioning with fathers.
Key Messages
Unlike the relatively stable, primarily biologically defined role of the mother, the definition or expression of fatherhood can fluctuate widely and is largely dependent on cultural and societal influences. This variability in the fathering role together with evidence demonstrating the importance of the father child relationship, accentuates the need to investigate the social and personal factors that can impede fathers connecting well with their children.
Conclusion
A better understanding of father’s PRF is likely to assist in the development of more ‘family-friendly’ services or interventions and Government policies that target the specific needs of fathers and their children.