Parental Sense of Competence, Paternal Stress and Perceived Construction of the Relationship with the Premature Newborn: A Mixed Method Study

OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study is to investigate the parental sense of competence, the paternal stress and the perceived construction of the relationship with the infant of during the hospitalization in a neonatal intensive care unit.METHODS:Forty-eight French fathers of premature infants participated in this study, which took place in the Toulouse University Hospital in France. Mixed methods are used, a semi-structured interview and two self-reported questionnaires.RESULTS:Main results show that fathers perceive the construction of the first relationship with their infant through the skin-to-skin and eye contact, along with their immediate presence by their child. The physical contact, although it may induce more stress, it motivates the father to be more involved in the caregiving process. Child's fragile appearance generates more stress to fathers. Finally, the stress linked to the construction of their relationship with the infant will affect their parental sense of competence.CONCLUSION:Results are discussed with respect to recent literature and ways to improve professional practice are proposed.