Fathers’ sensitive parenting enhanced by prenatal video-feedback: a randomized controlled trial using ultrasound imaging
Pediatric Research, vol. 93, pp. 1024–1030
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate an interaction-based prenatal parenting intervention program aimed at promoting parental sensitivity and involvement in expectant fathers using ultrasound images: Prenatal Video-Feedback Intervention to Promote Positive Parenting (VIPP-PRE). METHODS: In this randomized controlled trial, 73 first-time, healthy expectant fathers were enrolled. Participants were randomly assigned to the VIPP-PRE intervention (n = 39) or a dummy intervention (n = 34). Parental sensitivity was coded from video-recorded 10-min interactions with an infant simulator at a prenatal pretest and with fathers' own infant at a postnatal posttest. Prenatal and postnatal involvement was assessed via an application on participants' smartphones. RESULTS: Fathers receiving VIPP-PRE demonstrated increased sensitivity across the perinatal period, relative to fathers receiving a dummy intervention. Fathers' involvement with the infant increased significantly from the prenatal to postnatal period, regardless of the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Prenatal video-feedback using ultrasound imaging of the unborn child has the potential to promote the quality of parenting in an important, but understudied, population and period: men in the transition to fatherhood. Future research should examine the long-term effectiveness of VIPP-PRE and its effectiveness in increasing parenting quality in at-risk families. IMPACT: This study identifies a brief and focused prenatal intervention using assisted interactions between the father and his baby by means of ultrasound imaging as a promising strategy to improve sensitive fathering in the early postnatal phase. Our study shows that pregnancy provides a window of opportunity for promoting prenatal involvement and bonding in expectant fathers, with potential long-term benefits for the future father-child relationship. Ultrasound measures are currently used to monitor fetal growth and development, but our results suggest that they may also create an opportunity for stimulating father-infant interaction to promote postnatal caregiving quality.
Authors 7
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Renate S. M. Buisman corresponding Aachen Forensic Family and Youth Care Studies Institute of Education and Child Studies
Leiden University · Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Affiliation as printed
Clinical Child & Family Studies, Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. R.S.M.Buisman@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
Forensic Family and Youth Care Studies, Institute of Education and Child studies, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands. R.S.M.Buisman@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
Clinical Child & Family Studies, Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Anna Freud Centre · Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Affiliation as printed
Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, London, UK
Clinical Child & Family Studies, Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Affiliation as printed
Clinical Child & Family Studies, Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Ashwina R. Kesarlal Aachen Forensic Family and Youth Care Studies Institute of Education and Child Studies
Leiden University · Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Affiliation as printed
Clinical Child & Family Studies, Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Forensic Family and Youth Care Studies, Institute of Education and Child studies, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Affiliation as printed
Clinical Child & Family Studies, Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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University College London · Erasmus University Rotterdam
Affiliation as printed
Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Research Department of Clinical, Education and Health Psychology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, UCL, London, UK
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The New School · Leiden University · Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Affiliation as printed
Center for Attachment Research, The New School for Social Research, New York, USA
Clinical Child & Family Studies, Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
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