Purpose
The purpose of this study was to investigate perceptions of fatherhood among fathers of high-risk neonates and their confidence regarding neonatal care.
Methods
A study was conducted of 100 fathers whose neonates had been admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for at least 48 hours. Perceptions of fatherhood, neonatal characteristics, and fathers' confidence regarding neonatal care were measured using a self-reported questionnaire. The survey took approximately 10 minutes to complete and was completed anonymously. The factors that affected fathers' confidence regarding neonatal care were analyzed using multiple regression.
Results
The scores for positive and negative perceptions of fatherhood were relatively high at 4.27 and 3.42 out of 5 points, respectively. A positive perception of fatherhood was found to influence fathers' confidence regarding neonatal care.
Conclusion
NICU nurses should encourage fathers to effectively perform their parenting roles by implementing educational programs and interventions to promote positive perceptions of fatherhood and fathers' confidence regarding neonatal care after discharge.

Citations

• Supporting Fathers in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
  William Hull, Alejandra Rodriguez, Nathan Talarico, Curry Bordelon
  Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing.2025; 39(2): 94.     CrossRef
• Fathers in the neonatal unit: A narrative review
  Claire Webber, Paula Foran, Karen Walker
  Journal of Neonatal Nursing.2025; 31(2): 101617.     CrossRef
• Review of the Research Literature on the Impact of Father Absence on Child Development in Alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS)
  Hadiye Kucukkaragoz
  Journal of Lifestyle and SDGs Review.2025; 5(4): e06117.     CrossRef
• Parenting Self‐Efficacy Within the First Year Postpartum in Non‐Birthing Parents: A Scoping Review
  Justine Dol, Jennifer A. Parker, Christine T. Chambers, Phillip Joy, Patricia Leahy‐Warren, Cindy‐Lee Dennis, Marilyn Macdonald, Kristy Hancock
  Family Process.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Parents’ Participation in Care during Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Stay in COVID-19 Era: An Observational Study
  Emanuele Buccione, Davide Scarponcini Fornaro, Damiana Pieragostino, Luca Natale, Adelaide D’Errico, Valentina Chiavaroli, Laura Rasero, Stefano Bambi, Carlo Della Pelle, Susanna Di Valerio
  Nursing Reports.2024; 14(2): 1212.     CrossRef

PURPOSE
As a result of dramatic advances in the medical and surgical management of congenital heart disease (CHD), many babies born with cardiac anomalies today can expect to reach adulthood. The main purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between parenting stress and personal resources of mothers of children with CHD.
METHOD
Fifty-one mothers of children with CHD were recruited at the pediatric cardiac outpatient clinic from July 14th to September 25th 2006. Abidin's parenting stress index/short form (PSI/SF) and Brandt and Weinert's personal resource questionnaire (PRQ) were used. PSI has 3 sub-concepts; parental role distress, dysfunctional parent-child interaction, and difficult child. PRQ has 4 sub-concepts; intimacy, social integration, worth, and assistance. Data were analyzed using SPSS 13.0 version.
RESULTS
Correlation analysis showed that parenting stress was significantly related to 'intimacy', 'social integration', and 'worth' of mothers. Multiple regression analysis showed that parenting stress was significantly related to personal resource of mother and information by internet.
CONCLUSION
Mothers who felt they had supportive friends and family, high self esteem, and social integration reported lower parenting stress. Also, internet may be an effective method to provide information and share experience for mothers of children with CHD.