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Background: The attachment between father and infant is essential to a child's later development and well-being; yet, hardly any research has examined father-to-infant attachment during the outbreak of COVID-19. This study, therefore, aims to examine psychological, interpersonal, and health-related factors associated with father-to-infant attachment at 3–12 months postpartum during the pandemic. Method: An online cross-sectional study was conducted between June and December 2021. A total of 775 fathers with at least one child aged 3–12 months were recruited. Participants completed measures of depression, COVID-19-related distress, relationship satisfaction, social support and other health-related factors including COVID-19 diagnosis and hospitalisation. Data on psycho-socio-demographic, obstetric, and COVID-19-related characteristics were also collected. Results: Findings demonstrated that paternal depression (β = -.33, p <.001); relationship satisfaction (β =.19, p <.001); COVID-19-related psychological distress (β = -.14, p <.001) and social support (β =.13, p <.001) had a significant effect on father-to-infant attachment. Fathers who were multiparous, had COVID-19 diagnosis, and hospitalised due to COVID-19 were more likely to report poorer father-to-infant attachment. Paternal depression was the most influential factor on father-to-infant attachment, which attenuated the strength of the relationships between marital status, prematurity, history of trauma, sleep quality, and father-to-infant attachment once included into the analyses. No significant associations between educational level, employment, socioeconomic status, delivery mode, and father-to-infant attachment were observed. Conclusion: These findings highlight the critical role of paternal psychological well-being in establishing healthy father-to-infant attachment and the relevance of having satisfied interpersonal relationships in promoting this early relationship particularly during crises such as COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research highlights a growing interest in early interactions between fathers and their infants, acknowledging the significant influence these interactions have on developmental outcomes. However, there is a limited understanding of the specific characteristics of paternal infant-directed speech (IDS), especially in the context of premature birth. This study aimed to analyze the functional and morpho-syntactic features of paternal IDS to full-term (FT) and preterm (PT) infants at 3 months, comparing it with maternal communicative style. Additionally, the study explored the influence of the severity of preterm birth according to birth weight, further distinguishing between extremely low-birth-weight (ELBW) and very low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants. Seventy-one father–infant and mother–infant dyads (24 FT, 22 ELBW, 25 VLBW) were recruited at 3 months (corrected age for PTs). Parent–infant interactions were video recorded to assess lexical, syntactic, and functional aspects of paternal and maternal speech. Results revealed lower verbosity and lexical variability in paternal IDS compared to the maternal one. No differences were found between parents of the PT and FT groups. Overall, these findings could contribute to better understanding the patterns of parent–infant communications in both FT and PT dyads, confirming the importance of involving both mothers and fathers from the early stages of development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Daylong recordings provide an ecologically valid option for analyzing language input, and have become a central method for studying child language development. However, the vast majority of this work has been conducted in North America. We harnessed a unique collection of daylong recordings from Slovenian infants (age: 16–30 months, N = 40, 18 girls), and focus our attention on manually annotated measures of parentese (infant‐directed speech with a higher pitch, slower tempo, and exaggerated intonation), conversational turns, infant words, and word combinations. Measures from daylong recordings showed large variation, but were comparable to previous studies with North American samples. Infants heard almost twice as much speech and parentese from mothers compared to fathers, but there were no differences in language input to boys and girls. Positive associations were found between the social‐interactional features of language input (parentese, turn‐taking) and infants' concurrent language production. Measures of child speech from daylong recordings were positively correlated with measures obtained through the Slovenian MacArthur‐Bates Communicative Development Inventory. These results support the notion that the social‐interactional features of parental language input are the foundation of infants' language skills, even in an environment where infants spend much of their waking hours in childcare settings, as they do in Slovenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trait anger reflects a tendency to feel irritation, annoyance, and rage, and involves a narrowing of cognition and attention. This narrowed scope may impact the capacity to understand the mental states of oneself and others (mentalizing), which for fathers of infants may compromise bonding and caregiving involvement. Here, we investigated the extent to which mentalizing mediated the relationship between father trait anger and both father–infant bonding and father involvement in infant caregiving. Data were from 168 fathers (M = 30.04 years of age, SD = 1.36) of 190 infants (M = 7.58 months of age, SD = 5.06) in the longitudinal Men and Parenting Pathways (MAPP) study. We assessed fathers' preconception trait anger at Wave 1 and their mentalizing 2 years later at Wave 3. At Waves 3, 4, and/or 5, we assessed father–infant bonding and father involvement in infant caregiving when men had an infant younger than 18 months of age. Associations were examined using path analysis. Poorer mentalizing fully mediated the relationship between preconception trait anger and father–infant bonding (total score), but not involvement in infant caregiving. Further, poorer mentalizing fully mediated the relationships between trait anger and each component of the father–infant bond (i.e., patience and tolerance, affection and pride, and pleasure in interactions). Findings suggest that for men high on trait anger, targeted interventions that facilitate mentalizing capacities may help to develop a foundation for a strong father–infant bond. Interventions may be offered on becoming a father (perinatal), or prior to becoming a father (preconception) to prevent future bonding problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bonding, as parental feelings and thoughts toward a child, can be challenging for employed parents due to work-family role conflict. This study aimed to investigate concurrent associations between work-to-family conflict dimensions (time-, strain-, and behavior-based) and father-infant bonding, with marital satisfaction as a potential mediator. Employed fathers (N = 170) from Croatia who had infants (1–12 months old) completed questionnaires on work-family conflict, marital satisfaction, bonding, and questions on demographic and job-related data. Path analysis showed that the time-, strain-, and behavior-based conflict did not have direct effects on father-infant bonding. However, strain-based work-to-family conflict indirectly affected father-infant bonding through marital satisfaction. Fathers who experienced higher strain-based work-to-family conflict reported decreased marital satisfaction, negatively impacting father-infant bonding. To improve the bonding experience for fathers, the spousal relationship should be taken into account. Additionally, family-friendly policies at work should focus primarily on reducing the fathers' strain-based work-to-family conflict. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parental representations of the child are linked to positive developmental outcomes in children, but the impact of prenatal representations on early social-emotional development, particularly from fathers, is less understood. This study explores how fathers' and mothers' prenatal representations within two-parent families are associated with early social-emotional development. Prenatal representations of fathers (n = 88) and mothers (n = 92) were assessed between 28 and 32 weeks of gestation using the Working Model of the Child Interview, categorizing them as balanced or nonbalanced. The children's (n = 97; 49.5% girls) social-emotional and behavioral problems and competencies were measured at 18 months using the Brief Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment. Balanced prenatal representations of both parents were related to higher social-emotional competence in toddlers. However, prenatal representations were not related to social-emotional and behavioral problems. The results highlight the benefits of balanced prenatal representations in promoting early social-emotional competence in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined the influence of fathers' parenting quality during infancy on children's emotion regulation during toddlerhood and, subsequently, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in middle childhood. Fathers and their 8-month-old infants (N = 124) were followed over time to obtain home observations of parenting quality at 8 and 24 months, laboratory observations of children's emotion regulation at 24 months, and teacher reports of children's ADHD symptoms at 7 years. A path analysis revealed that fathers' emotional disengagement in infancy and minimizing responses to children's distress in toddlerhood forecast children's development of ADHD symptoms in middle childhood. Further, a significant indirect effect was found such that fathers' parenting at 8 and 24 months predicted subsequent development of ADHD symptoms at age 7 through toddlers' difficulty regulating emotion. Implications of this study for early intervention and directions for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fathers are at increased risk of mental health difficulties such as depression during the first postnatal year, however little is currently known about the extent to which fathers experience symptoms of anxiety and stress, and the factors associated with these symptoms. This study aimed to: (1) investigate the extent to which fathers accessing support to strengthen their coparenting relationship through a community health organisation experience depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms during the first postnatal year, and (2) examine associations between a broad range of individual, child, and family factors and fathers' depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms during the first postnatal year. This study involved secondary analysis of routinely collected data from 170 fathers of children aged 0–12 months who were enroled in a coparenting intervention programme delivered by a community health organisation in Melbourne, Australia. Elevated symptoms of stress were reported by ~28% of fathers, while elevated symptoms of depression and anxiety were reported by ~26% and 16% of fathers, respectively. Multiple regression analyses revealed evidence for associations between reduced parental self-efficacy and higher depressive and stress symptoms, while infant regulation difficulties and increased interparental conflict were associated with higher levels of stress. This study highlights that fathers are at risk of mental health difficulties during the first postnatal year. Findings demonstrate the importance of undertaking a broad assessment of fathers' mental health during the first postnatal year and provide important insights into individual, child, and family factors that may represent optimal targets for prevention and early intervention. Highlights: Focus on mental health of fathers of children aged 0–12 months enroled in a coparenting programme in Australia. The extent to which fathers experienced depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms, and the factors associated with these symptoms were explored. Reduced parental self-efficacy was associated with higher depressive symptoms. Reduced parental self-efficacy, infant dysregulation, and increased parental conflict were associated with higher stress. A range of individual, child, and family factors may represent important targets for prevention and early intervention of mental health difficulties in fathers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Increased father–infant physical contact may promote early paternal caregiving. This randomized controlled trial, preregistered on https://osf.io/qwe3a, tested the effects of a soft baby carrier intervention on fathers' parenting behavior and hormonal levels. Eighty first-time fathers of 2- to 4-month-old infants were randomly assigned to a baby carrier intervention group (n = 41 fathers) or a control group receiving an infant seat (n = 39 fathers). Fathers were instructed to use the baby carrier or seat for 3 weeks. Fathers' sensitive parenting behavior, involvement, salivary oxytocin and cortisol basal levels and reactivity to interacting with the infant were assessed at pre-test (on average 2 weeks before the intervention) and at post-test (on average 1 week after the intervention period ended). The results showed that the intervention did not enhance fathers' sensitive parenting or involvement. Involvement operationalized as hours spent with the infant decreased over time for fathers in the carrier condition compared to fathers in the control condition. The baby carrier intervention had no effect on fathers' basal oxytocin or cortisol levels, nor did it affect fathers' oxytocin or cortisol reactivity to interacting with their infant. Our findings indicate that 3 weeks of using a baby carrier does not have immediate beneficial effects on fathers' parenting behavior or hormonal functioning as assessed here. Future research may examine whether infant carrying has beneficial effects on the longer term or in different groups of fathers, and how fathers' infant carrying affects their infants. Highlights: We tested for the first time the effects of a soft baby carrier intervention on fathers' parenting behavior and hormones. The baby carrier intervention did not promote fathers' sensitivity or involvement. The intervention had no effects on fathers' basal hormonal levels or hormonal reactivity to interacting with their infant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Fathers are of great importance for healthy child development. This randomized controlled study investigated the longer-term effects of an intervention using a soft baby carrier on fathers' observed sensitive caregiving, involvement, and oxytocin and cortisol levels. Design. First-time fathers were randomly assigned to use a baby carrier (n = 41) or baby seat (n = 39) and were asked to use the carrier or seat for at least 6 h per week for 3 weeks. Pretest (Mchild age = 2.67 months), posttest (Mchild age = 3.99 months), and follow-up (Mchild age = 8.25 months) father data were collected. Results. No intervention effects of baby carrier use on fathers' sensitivity, involvement, and oxytocin or cortisol levels at follow-up emerged. Unexpectedly, fathers in the baby seat condition reported an increase in the amount of time spent with the infant. Fathers' sensitivity and oxytocin levels decreased over time, while cortisol levels increased over time, irrespective of condition. Conclusions. This study showed less optimal hormonal levels in fathers over time, suggesting that support during the first months of fatherhood is needed. Furthermore, use of a baby seat may have contributed to fathers enjoying their time with their infant and consequently their involvement in child caregiving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. The goal of the present study was to provide a clearer picture of the correlates of father involvement during infancy using a multidimensional and multifactorial approach. Design. In a sample of 84 couples having a 7-month-old infant, various factors (paternal psychological symptoms and sense of competence, child sex and difficultness, marital satisfaction, parenting alliance, and maternal gatekeeping attitudes and support for the father's role) were examined in association with several dimensions of fathers' involvement (engagement in childcare and play, accessibility, and responsibility) measured by a time diary covering a 7-day week. Results. Father engagement in childcare was associated with maternal gatekeeping attitudes and support for the father's role, and father engagement in play was associated with child difficultness. Correlates of father involvement vary across dimensions of involvement, highlighting the importance of using a multifactorial and multidimensional framework to increase understanding of factors that promote or hinder such involvement. Conclusions. Findings highlight the importance of supporting fathers in their parenting role, especially when they are experiencing difficulty in their relationship with the child and his/her mother. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective This study aimed to examine the developmental process by which fathers of twin infants settle into the parental role between the time they learn of the pregnancy and the age of three months to approximately one year and to find ways to help fathers assume the parental role from the early stages of pregnancy. Methods Web-based semi-structured interviews using the interview guide were conducted with 10 fathers of twins. The interview content was transcribed verbatim and labeled. Data were classified and analyzed using the Trajectory Equifinality Model. Results Seven participants were observed to be first-time fathers, and three were experienced in child-rearing. The analysis indicated nine essential paths and junctures. Fathers experienced surprise more than joy when they learned of the pregnancy, and experienced emotional suppression. The fathers were [concerned about the physical risk to the mother and fetus] after their wives became pregnant with multiple children, and they [supported their wives who were in physically unstable condition], but they were [unable to imagine fathering twins during the pregnancy]. When [the twins were born and he became the father], [he confirmed that they were twins through photos and videos during the post-delivery hospitalization]. After [the children were discharged from the hospital], [he and his wife began to raise their children together], and [as they faced the harsh reality of child-rearing], [he felt the burden of child-rearing], they demonstrates ingenuity [explored his role as a father]. As time progressed, they gathered inner strength and grew into their roles as fathers of the twins. Discussion and Conclusion Existing studies have revealed the child-rearing experiences and mental health status of fathers of multiple births. However, this study also clarified the developmental process observed among fathers from when they learned of the pregnancy to the present when they assumed their parental role, in addition to their child-rearing experience and mental health. The study results indicate that fathers must learn about the implications of "multiple births" from the gestational period and prepare themselves for child-rearing to assume the parental role confidently. Fathers need to cultivate emotional skills to deal with various conflicts that arise in child-rearing. Additionally, practicing parenting as a couple is essential for family bonding. Understanding and supporting the developmental process of fatherhood is crucial to strengthen the parental partnership between couples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the language environments experienced by pretermborn infants, this study compared the linguistic and interactive features of parent--infant conversations involving 2-year-old preterm- and term-born infants. The study also explored how mother--infant and father--infant conversations may be differentially affected by preterm/term birth status. Method: Twenty-two preterm-born (< 37 weeks' gestation) and 25 term-born (≥ 37 weeks' gestation) 2-year-old infants engaged in dyadic mother/father--infant free-play interactions that were transcribed to quantify the linguistic (parental volubility, speech rate, lexical diversity, and morphosyntactic complexity) and interactive (infant/parent responsiveness, turn-taking, and conversational balance) features of parent--infant conversations. Language, cognitive, socioemotional, and executive function skills were assessed via standardized tools. Results: Compared to the term group, the preterm group was characterized by lower maternal speech rate, parental lexical diversity, and parent--infant turntaking, as well as greater mother--infant conversational balance. The preterm group presented poorer language and executive function skills when compared to the term group. Conclusions: Both similarities and differences exist between the language environments of preterm and term groups. Similarities may be due to the partial developmental catch-up of preterm-born infants (cognitive and socioemotional skills) and parental scaffolding. Differences may partly reflect a parental adaptation to the language and executive function difficulties of preterm-born infants. These findings suggest that researchers/clinicians should appraise the language environment with respect to the unique developmental needs of preterm/term-born infants. Future research directions are provided to advance a more holistic characterization of the language environment and a deeper understanding of the developmental significance of preterm--term differences in such environments. Supplemental Material: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.25021931 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: This study aimed to translate and validate a Japanese version of the Paternal Antenatal Attachment Scale (PAAS-J). Methods: The PAAS-J was translated through a pilot study and a survey of fathers with pregnant partners. Results: The survey involved 189 fathers. A confirmatory factor analysis was performed, but the model fit was poor. Therefore, an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed. Based on the results of the EFA, three items with low interitem correlations and factor loadings were deleted, and a 13-item scale consisting of 2 domains was created. Coefficient alpha was.80. The intraclass correlation coefficient of the retest method was.80, confirming its reliability. Conclusions: The PAAS-J was found to be reliable and valid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Both parents may report high levels of stress during the perinatal period with possible negative consequences for parental well-being and child development. Parental sense of efficacy moderates the effect of stress. To date, no studies have assessed links between parental stress and mother-father-infant interactions in terms of family alliance and the extent to which each parent's sense of efficacy moderates these links. Design. In this study, 65 dual-parent families answered a questionnaire about parental stress between 36 and 38 weeks of pregnancy and at 3 months after birth. Families were also observed while playing with their 3-month-old infant in the Lausanne Trilogue Play, and they completed a questionnaire about parental efficacy. Results. Structural equation modeling analyses showed that higher maternal or paternal postnatal stress has a direct link with higher family alliance and the links between stress and family alliance are moderated by complex interaction effects between maternal and paternal senses of efficacy. Conclusions. This study shows the necessity of considering the interaction between the senses of self-efficacy of both parents as moderators of parenting stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of studies have shown that mothers' early tactile behaviors have positive effects, both on full-term and preterm infants, and on mothers alike. Regarding fathers, research has focused mostly on paternal skin-to-skin care with preterm infants and has overlooked the tactile behavior effects with full-term newborns on infants' outcomes and on fathers themselves. The current systematic review considered the evidence regarding paternal tactile behaviors with full-term infants, including skin-to-skin care (SSC) and spontaneous touch (ST), during parent–infant interactions, and differentiated biophysiological, behavioral and psychological variables both in fathers and in infants. We also compared fathers' and mothers' tactile behaviors for potential differences. The few available studies suggest that paternal touch—SSC and ST—can have positive effects on fathers and infants alike. They also show that, despite some intrinsic differences, paternal touch is as pleasant as maternal touch. However, given the paucity of studies on the topic, we discuss why this field of research should be further explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unmarried, Black fathers' positive engagement contributes to children's health and development beginning in early infancy. For many men, preparations for parenthood begin before birth as expectant fathers formulate parenting attitudes that can promote secure infant–father attachment relationships. This study examined aspects of life stress as predictors of prenatal attitudes toward attachment—the extent to which expectant fathers endorsed promoting attachment security in their infants. Further, we considered whether shift-and-persist cognitive strategies—a psychological resilience factor focused on shifting to positive focus and future-orientation—moderated these associations. A sample of 121 unmarried, Black men expecting the birth of a child were recruited during the second or third trimester of their partner's pregnancy. Expectant fathers reported on childhood trauma, recent negative life experiences, and depressive symptomology. Fathers also completed a survey assessment of shift-and-persist strategies, as well as a newly developed scale assessing attitudes toward attachment. Depressive symptoms and negative life events were directly, positively related to attitudes toward attachment. The association between positive attitudes toward attachment and both negative life events and depressive symptomology was moderated by fathers' ability to shift-and-persist. Specifically, aspects of life stress were generally unrelated to attitudes toward attachment when shift-and-persist was low, but related to more positive attitudes toward attachment when shift-and-persist was high. Preliminary findings point to the potential steeling effects of shift-and-persist strategies for expectant fathers facing moderate levels of life stress. Public Significance Statement: Unmarried, expectant Black fathers in the rural southern United States who were experiencing life stress endorsed more positive attitudes toward attachment when they had shift-and-persist cognitive resilience strategies. Although findings are specific to this population and cannot necessarily be generalized to other fathers, results suggest opportunities for early father–child interventions to foster resilience and strengthen father–child relationships among unmarried fathers in rural communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fatherhood at a young age can be characterized by a multiproblematic background with several risk factors that can negatively affect father-child relationships, the father's well-being and child's social-emotional development. Methods: This pilot study evaluated paternal interaction styles and mentalization in a sample of 22 young fathers and their 3-month-old infants and compared these variables with those of 22 adolescent and young mothers (the fathers' partners). Parent-infant interaction were codified with Care-Index to evaluate styles of interaction and with Mind-Mindedness system to evaluate mentalization. Results: The results showed that young fathers had high scores in controlling behaviors and low scores in sensitivity, placing them in a risk range. The young father's interaction profile did not differ from the young mother's interaction profile. Infants had high scores in passive behaviors and low scores in cooperative behaviors, placing them in a high-risk range. Moreover, young fathers had more nonattuned mind-related comments than their partners. Conclusions: The findings indicate that low responsiveness and low mind-mindedness characterize the quality of adolescent and young father-infant interactions, highlighting the value of providing early intervention to support the father–child relationship, enhancing the father's sensitivity and his ability to keep the infant in mind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Becoming a father is a common transitional event, however men are often not adequately prepared for their fathering role. The United States (U.S.) health care system does little to support fathers' parenting needs during the postnatal and infancy period. Moreover, father's support needs are often perceived as secondary to the mother's needs in the maternal-child system. It is important that fathers' social support needs be investigated in the first year of his newborn's life, especially in diverse populations. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the social support needs of urban, African American fathers during early parenthood. Using the Critical Incident Technique (CIT), a descriptive, qualitative design was used to interview 35 fathers about their social support at 2–12 months after the birth of their baby. Using a semi-structured interview guide, fathers were asked to describe helpful and unhelpful events they experienced since the birth of their baby. Fathers reported 36 helpful events and 32 unhelpful events for an overall total of 68 events. Data was analyzed using House's Social Support Theory and the four social support categories: instrumental, informational, emotional, and appraisal. Using the CIT, main categories and subcategories were developed. The helpful categories included: 1) Helping father with infant care, 2) Providing information on infant care, 3) Receiving HCP assistance, 4) Managing relationships, and 5) Becoming a father. The unhelpful categories included: 1) Receiving unhelpful assistance, 2) Receiving unreliable or unwanted assistance, 3) Offering bad advice, 4) Conflicting relationships, 5) Conflicts with friends, 6) Unsatisfying HCP experience, and 7) Receiving no support from family/organizations. The results of the study validated House's Social Support Theory and served as an excellent framework for exploring social support needs in fathers. More research needs to be conducted on the social support needs of fathers during the first year of their infants' lives, especially with experienced African American fathers and nonresidential fathers, and how health care professionals (HCPs), specifically postnatal and child health nurses, can better support fathers during the infancy period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has shown that the quality of mother-infant interactions, as measured by mother-infant synchrony, is associated with infants' vagal tone, a physiological indicator of emotion regulation. However, little is known about the association between the infant's vagal tone and the quality of father-infant interactions. Existing literature suggests that the greater quantity of time a father spends with the infant, either alone (dyadic time) or with others (social time) may strengthen this association. In this study we investigated the association between father-infant synchrony and infants' vagal tone in 77 dyads made up of fathers and their 3-month-old infants, considering the moderating roles of dyadic time and social time. Results revealed no direct associations between father-infant synchrony and infants' vagal tone. Moderation analyses revealed that more social time increases the association between synchrony and vagal tone. This result indicates a potential influence of family interactive processes. Key findings Father-infant synchrony is not associated with infants' vagal tone in father-infant interactions. The time that fathers share with infants facilitates associations between father-infant synchrony and infants' vagal tone during father-infant interactions. Further investigations should explore whether interactive processes during shared family time influence dyadic father-infant interactions and the infant's physiological emotion regulation at 3 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the weight of scientific evidence demonstrating the importance of fathers in the social and emotional development and well‐being of infants, infant mental health services struggle to engage fathers. Commonly, fathers are assumed to be unavailable, uninterested, unnecessary, or even unsafe in relation to infant mental health work. These outdated perspectives perpetuate the myth that this work pertains exclusively to the infant–mother dyad. This paper aims to explore some of the reasons for and barriers to involving fathers in infant mental health services. We present an imagined conversation between three mental health professionals working in a child and adolescent mental health service. Presented as a script, the various arguments, counterarguments, and reflections made by the three characters aim to bring the subject matter to life and capture something akin to an actual discussion between colleagues working in a child mental health service. A junior clinician notices that an infant case presented at the multidisciplinary team meeting did not mention the child's father. A senior clinician explains that the team's work usually focuses on the infant–mother relationship, as this is considered of primary importance clinically. A psychiatrist, who has only recently joined the team, explores some of the aspects of team culture that might exclude fathers from participating in the service. Several plausible objections to involving fathers are explored as the discussion unfolds between the three professionals. Infant mental health services should consider how their culture and processes influence whether fathers and/or other adult caregivers engage in these services. For clinicians, thinking about the infant's immediate interpersonal context from their unique development perspective can reveal opportunities and resources within the family that may lead to effective systemic treatment approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An editorial is presented on work-family conflict in modern work environments, highlighting the challenges parents face in balancing home and career responsibilities. Topics include the types of conflict experienced, blurred boundaries between work and family roles due to globalization and technology, and the importance of supporting parental well-being and children's mental health through effective boundary management and family-supportive policies.

Although there is a consensus that harsh, hostile, abusive discipline has uniformly adverse effects on children, scholars continue to debate implications of varying degrees of power assertion commonly used by most parents in daily interactions with young children. Attachment theory can inform this debate, as early attachment organization can serve as a catalyst, or moderator, of future socialization trajectories. Specifically, insecure attachment can amplify, whereas secure attachment can attenuate, detrimental effects of parental power-assertive control. In two community studies of mothers, fathers, and infants, Family Study (FS, N = 102), and Children and Parents Study (CAPS, N = 200), we assessed attachment security in infancy, parental power-assertive control at 4.5 years in FS and at 16 months in CAPS, and child positive orientation to the parent at 10 years in FS and at 3 years in CAPS. In both studies, fathers' power-assertive control undermined children's positive orientation toward the fathers, but only for children with less secure attachment histories in infancy (Attachment Q-Set in FS and Strange Situation Paradigm in CAPS), and not for those with more secure histories. The findings highlight indirect yet powerful, long-term effects of the early parent-child security, and suggest distinct processes in mother- and father-child dyads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This longitudinal study uncovered prenatal marital antecedents of infants' attachment configurations with both mother and father at 12-15 months (n = 125). We also examined the contribution of both marital quality and infants' attachment configurations (secure with both parents, insecure with both parents, secure with mother-insecure with father, and insecure with mother-secure with father) to the quality of triadic (mother-father-toddler) interactions observed two years post-birth. Couples who displayed less negative affectivity and were more emotionally attuned were more likely to have infants securely attached with father and insecurely attached with mother (vs. insecure with both parents) and they engaged in more adaptive family interactions at two years. Also, a secure infant-father attachment relationship forecast more balanced triadic family interactions, regardless of whether the infant-mother attachment was secure or insecure. In contrast, a secure infant-mother attachment relationship was related to less controlling behavior during triadic interactions, regardless of infant-father attachment security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Parents’ participation in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) reduces length of stay and positively affects infants’ psychological, cognitive, and behavioural outcomes. Healthcare professionals in the NICU focus on both parents, but tend to have the main focus on the mother and the infant. Therefore, fathers may experience a lack of support and feel that they are being disregarded in the NICU. Purpose: To study fathers’ experiences with father groups during NICU admission with their preterm infant. The father group is a 90-minute intervention based on dialogue between fathers and a male healthcare professional. Methods: A qualitative content analysis was conducted using 10 online semistructured interviews with fathers participating in a father group. The study was reported according to the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research. Results: The overall theme emerging from our analysis was “Emotional support, encouragement, and an enhanced capacity to deal with the situation and with life in the NICU.” This theme emerged from the categories “Meeting with peers and sharing reflections” and “Fathers’ territory” based on 5 subcategories. Implications for Practice: Participation in father groups gives fathers recognition for being important as parents in the NICU, improves fathers’ mental well-being, and enhances their coping capacity. Father groups support fathers in the NICU and can be integrated into NICU practices and policies to enhance a family-centered approach. Implications for Research: This study revealed a need for further research to determine whether participation in a father group has a measurable effect on clinical outcomes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced lifestyles changes and affected the relationships between fathers and their infants. However, the factors associated with paternal–infant bonding have not been clarified. This study aimed to explore the factors associated with father–infant bonding during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. This cross-sectional study used data from a nationwide survey and the Japanese version of the Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale (MIBS) to measure father–infant bonding. The participants were divided into two groups depending on their partners' parity. A linear regression model (Gauss–Markov-type) was used for both groups. A total of 1055 men were included in the analysis. Of these men, 521 (49.4%) had a primipara partner, and 534 (50.6%) had a multipara partner. No significant differences were found between the two groups' MIBS-J scores. Fathers' mental health, relationship with the partner and family members, abusive behavior towards children, wanted pregnancy, and the youngest child's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit admission history were associated with father–infant bonding. Regarding factors related to COVID-19, caring for the child while the partner is at home has a negative impact on bonding, while fear related to infection with COVID-19 has no negative impact on bonding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Males may increase their fitness by providing care to offspring or to unrelated infants of female "friends" to maximise future mating. The potential for paternal care depends on paternity certainty, particularly in multi-male, multi-female groups with polygynandrous mating. In crested macaques (Macaca nigra), there seems to be high potential for paternity certainty and need for paternal protection. However, male-mother affiliation (or "friendships"), not paternity, predicts male-infant affiliation, questioning whether males can identify their offspring reliably. Using a Bayesian approach, we investigated male responses to infant screams (N = 2,637) emitted during agonistic interactions with males being the friend of the infant, the friend of the infants' mother, and/or the father of the infant. Overall, male responses to infant screams were low. Bayesian estimates showed considerable uncertainty; hence, results should be interpreted cautiously. However, males were slightly more likely to react if the infant or its mother was a friend of the male or if the infant was his offspring. Additionally, higher-ranking males were slightly more likely to respond than lower-ranking ones, and screams from infants of lower-ranking females were more likely to be responded to. This might indicate that males assess paternity based on their rank and that they assess the need to intervene. Given the limitations of our study and the uncertainty surrounding our results, future studies are needed before we can draw solid conclusions for crested macaques. Overall, our results are in line with other studies suggesting that male primates provide care to related and unrelated infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The need for paternal support is rarely addressed in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Neonatal nurses often primarily focus on the needs of the mother and infant and may not be trained in support of fathers. Purpose: To investigate nurses' self-efficacy (SE) in guiding and supporting fathers after implementing a father-friendly NICU. Methods: Nurses from the intervention NICU and 13 control NICUs were included in a before-and-after intervention study. Questionnaires measuring nurses' SE regarding support of fathers and mothers were obtained when starting the development process, before and 18 months after the implementation. The primary outcome was the difference between nurses' SE scores for father and mother questions in the intervention group compared with the control group. Results: In total, 294, 330, and 288 nurses responded to the first, second, and third questionnaires, respectively. From the first to third questionnaires, the intervention group showed a significantly higher increase in SE scores for father questions compared with the control group (0.53 vs 0.20, P =.005) and a nonsignificantly higher increase for mother questions (0.30 vs 0.09, P =.13). In the third questionnaire, the intervention group showed a higher SE score for father questions compared with the control group (9.02 vs 8.45, P =.002) and the first questionnaire (9.02 vs 8.49, P =.02). Implications for Practice and Research: By implementing a father-friendly NICU, nurses' SE for providing support to fathers increased significantly. Training in a father-friendly approach increases nurses' ability to support both parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Premature infants are at increased risk for language delays. The auditory system hears sounds at 25 weeks' gestation; therefore, infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) may miss crucial language exposure during the period when neural pathways for language processing are developing. Supporting the synergistic relationship between fathers and newborns promotes connections through early language to strengthen engagement and promote infant neurodevelopment. Purpose: To determine what is known about preterm infants' response to the male voice. Data Sources: Three databases and forward searching of reference lists were used to locate articles addressing the clinical question: "What strategies can be used in the NICU to support purposeful language development?" Study Selection: Empiric, primary research studies were included if they were published in English without date restriction. Data Extraction: The authors evaluated each study's quality using a validated 16-item assessment tool (QATSDD) developed for studies with diverse designs; data were extracted and organized following Garrard's Matrix Method. Results: The aim of this evidence-based review is to report the way an infant responds to the paternal voice. Findings promote a better understanding of individual infant response to paternal voice, including conversational turns and engagement behaviors. Although informative, this review highlights a clear gap in the evidence, supporting standardized methodology. Implications for Practice and Research: Fathers should be encouraged to communicate vocally early and often to facilitate bonding in the NICU. Encouraged future study of father–infant communication to support bonding, relationship building, and neurodevelopmental outcomes is paramount. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premature babies lose four times more heat than those with sufficient birth weight. Moreover, their body temperature regulation center does not function properly. This study aimed to investigate Kangaroo Mother Care's effect in increasing premature babies' thermoregulation during the COVID-19 pandemic at Hospital A in Malang City, Indonesia. This study was a case report with data from follow-up checks on premature babies discharged from the hospital. The Kangaroo Mother Care method, carried out by the mother, increased the thermoregulation of premature babies' temperature by 0.2°C compared to the father. It was because women have a slightly higher body temperature than men. The comfortable body temperature for women was 2.5°C higher than for men. Men had a lower body mass of fat, so it took an average longer time for metabolism. The Kangaroo Mother Care procedure, especially when done by the mother, can increase the body temperature of premature babies by conduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Behavioural coding is time-intensive and laborious. Thin slice sampling provides an alternative approach, aiming to alleviate the coding burden. However, little is understood about whether different behaviours coded over thin slices are comparable to those same behaviours over entire interactions. To provide quantitative evidence for the value of thin slice sampling for a variety of behaviours. We used data from three populations of parent-infant interactions: mother-infant dyads from the Grown in Wales (GiW) cohort (n = 31), mother-infant dyads from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) cohort (n = 14), and father-infant dyads from the ALSPAC cohort (n = 11). Mean infant ages were 13.8, 6.8, and 7.1 months, respectively. Interactions were coded using a comprehensive coding scheme comprised of 11–14 behavioural groups, with each group comprised of 3–13 mutually exclusive behaviours. We calculated frequencies of verbal and non-verbal behaviours, transition matrices (probability of transitioning between behaviours, e.g., from looking at the infant to looking at a distraction) and stationary distributions (long-term proportion of time spent within behavioural states) for 15 thin slices of full, 5-min interactions. Measures drawn from the full sessions were compared to those from 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-min slices. We identified many instances where thin slice sampling (i.e., < 5 min) was an appropriate coding method, although we observed significant variation across different behaviours. We thereby used this information to provide detailed guidance to researchers regarding how long to code for each behaviour depending on their objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of planned training given to fathers in the prenatal period on their functional status in the postpartum period. We selected 143 participants and randomly assigned them to intervention (n = 72) and control (n = 71) groups for an experimental study. Prenatal Information Form, Postnatal Information Form, Inventory of Functional Status-Fathers and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support were used for data collection. In the postpartum period, functional status and perceived social support levels of fathers receiving training were affected positively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Strain on couple relationships is associated with a lower well‐being. As premature birth is known to pose stress to parents, this study explores whether interparental relationship strain comes to pass within mothers and fathers during their infant's stay in a neonatal intensive care unit. Methods: A retrospective cross‐sectional survey was conducted with parents who experienced a preterm birth (September to December 2020). Linear regression was used to analyse associations between stress and relationship strain. Results: The study included 437 mothers and 301 fathers. Fathers experienced lower relationship strain (M = 2.49, SD = 1.00) than mothers (M = 3.37, SD = 1.04). Overall, a significant association between relationship strain and stress due to the infant's behaviour and appearance was found for mothers (β = 0.16, p = 0.02) and fathers, with a significantly higher association for fathers (β = 0.27, p ≤ 0.002). With regard to parental role alterations, only mothers showed a significant association (β = 0.21, p ≤ 0.001). Conclusion: Although mothers showed higher levels of stress and relationship strain, stress may also have an impact on fathers. Therefore, research should focus on stress prevention measures to meet both maternal and paternal needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthcare professionals, especially nurses, play a central role in supporting parents during their stay in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Fathers often have their own support needs; however, studies have shown that these needs are rarely met to the same degree as those of the mothers. We developed a "father-friendly NICU" with the aim of providing good-quality care to the entire family. To evaluate the impact of this concept, we adopted a quasi-experimental design; using the Nurse Parent Support Tool (NPST), we investigated the differences in the fathers' (n = 497) and mothers' (n = 562) perception of the nursing support received on admission and discharge between before and after the intervention. In the historical control and intervention groups, the fathers' median NPST scores at admission were 4.3 (range, 1.9–5.0) and 4.0 (range, 2.5–4.8), respectively (p < 0.0001); at discharge, these scores were 4.3 (range, 1.6–5.0) and 4.4 (range, 2.3–5.0), respectively (difference not significant). In the historical control and intervention groups, the mothers median NPST scores at admission were 4.5 (range, 1.9–5.0) and 4.1 (range, 1.0–4.8), respectively (p < 0.001); at discharge, these scores were 4.4 (range, 2.7–5.0) and 4.4 (range, 2.6–5), respectively (difference not significant). The parental perception of support did not increase after the intervention; however, the parents reported a high level of staff support both before and after the intervention. Further studies should focus on parental support needs during the different phases of hospitalization (i.e., admission, stabilization, and discharge). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impaired father-infant bonding is a mental health issue that has been understudied. The current study aimed to examine the extent to which fathers' depression symptoms and coparenting relationship, respectively, are associated with infant bonding, as well as how these two variables mediate in the association with infant bonding. Cross-sectional data from 612 fathers of infants (0–24 months) were used in this study. Path analyses on two competing mediation models were used to examine the direct and indirect associations between fathers' depression symptoms, coparenting relationship, and infant bonding, after controlling for several known covariates. Whether fathers reported depression symptoms (Model 1) or reported lower levels of coparenting relationships (Model 2), they also reported higher levels of impaired infant bonding, rejection and anger, and anxiety about care after controlling for the covariates. The analysis further found significant indirect associations between father depression symptoms and father-infant bonding via the coparenting relationship (Model 1) as well as significant indirect associations between the coparenting relationship and father-infant bonding via father depression symptoms (Model 2). The cross-sectional data cannot show causal links. Specific efforts were made to recruit fathers with depression symptoms, and therefore prevalence rates may appear skewed. Decreasing depression symptoms and improving coparenting quality can potentially improve father-infant bonding. Fathers' depression symptoms and coparenting quality can be bi-directionally related in the association with father-infant bonding. Early detection and preventive treatments for paternal depression symptoms and coparenting are warranted. • Paternal postpartum depression and the coparenting relationship are both directly associated with father-infant bonding • The quality of the coparenting relationship and having depression symptoms both mediated the direct associations • Clinical screenings and interventions regarding fathers' coparenting relationships and depression symptoms are needed • More research on the mechanisms impacting and outcomes of the father-infant bond are needed [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finding modifiable predictors of paternal depression symptoms is helpful for developing interventions. The aim is to assess the unidirectional and/or bidirectional associations between paternal postpartum depression symptoms and coparenting among fathers of infants and toddlers. Longitudinal data were collected prospectively from 429 fathers of infants aged 0–24 months (median = 8 months) in Sweden, with 6- and 18-month follow-ups. All fathers participated in at least two of three waves of data collection, and multiple imputation was used for missing values. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was used to detect depression symptoms (≥10 points), while the Brief Coparenting Relationship Scale measured the coparenting relationship. A cross-lagged panel model was used to estimate the associations between paternal depression symptoms and coparenting relationship quality over time, controlling for several known covariates and COVID-19 exposure. Fathers with higher coparenting scores at Time 1 and 2 had less depression symptoms at Time 3, and fathers with more depression symptoms at Time 2 had lower coparenting scores at Time 3. Plotted probabilities of having at least mild depression symptoms revealed a multifold increase in the probability of depression symptoms at Time 3 for fathers with minimal coparenting scores at Times 1 and 2, respectively, compared to fathers with mean coparenting scores at Times 1 and 2, respectively. Causal links cannot be determined using the current non-experimental study design. Using the EPDS alone may have missed some fathers with depression symptoms. Clinicians seeking to reduce paternal depression symptoms should help strengthen the coparenting relationship. • Finding modifiable factors to help reduce paternal postpartum depression benefits the whole family • Cross-lagged panel models showed bidirectional associations between paternal depression symptoms and coparenting • Fathers reporting low coparenting levels are at significantly higher risk of reporting depression symptoms (and vice versa) • Clinicians should support the coparenting relationship to decrease paternal depression in fathers of infants and toddlers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study explores the effect of antenatal education on fathers' attitudes toward: (i) breastfeeding and (ii) attachment to the fetus. A secondary aim is to explore the relationship of fathers' demographic and the psycho-emotional characteristics that come with breastfeeding and attachment. Methods: This is a longitudinal study involving a group of 216 Greek expectant fathers who participated with their partners in an antenatal educational program performed by midwives in Athens, Greece (September 2020–November 2021). The Iowa Infant Feeding Attitudes Scale (IIFAS) and Paternal Antenatal Attachment Scale (PAAS) were administered at two time points: (a) 24th–28th gestation week and (b) 34th–38th gestation week. The T-test and Univariate Analyses of Variance (ANOVA) were performed. Results: The expectant fathers' scores show that breastfeeding intention/exclusivity and prenatal attachment to the fetus were higher after their participation in the antenatal education program, but the difference was not statistically insignificant. Expectant fathers with a cohabitation agreement (p = 0.026), who felt very much supported by their partners (p = 0.001) and had no relationship difficulties with their partners (p < 0.001), as well as those who reported being very happy during pregnancy (p < 0.001), showed greater paternal antenatal attachment to the fetus. Conclusions: Although the difference was statistically insignificant, antenatal education appears to have an impact on paternal breastfeeding attitudes and antenatal attachment to the fetus. Additionally, several paternal characteristics were associated with greater antenatal attachment. Future research should be directed toward the investigation of additional factors that impact antenatal–paternal attachment and breastfeeding attitudes so that effective education programs can be designed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Father's closeness and playful behavior influence a child's emotional and cognitive development. In this study, we aimed to assess the long‐term association of paternal involvement in childcare at 1–3 years of life on subsequent behavioral outcomes at 8 years of age. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2010 cohort of the Longitudinal Survey of Newborns in the 21st century in Japan. We used group‐based trajectory modeling to predict the trajectory of total childcare scores in surveys 1, 2 and 3 to determine the overall involvement of fathers in childcare during early childhood. The level of fathers' involvement in childcare was categorized as "low", "medium" and "high". Responses from the eighth survey were used to assess child behavioral outcomes using five indicators when the child was 8 years old. Crude and adjusted logistic regression analysis was conducted to estimate the odds ratio (OR) separately for each of the behavioral outcomes of the child. Results: Among the 17,027 father‐child dyads included in this study, two‐thirds of the fathers were of the age group 30–39 years. Compared to low involvement, children of fathers with high involvement in childcare during the early childhood years were less likely to not want to go to school even after adjusting for covariates (adjusted OR, 0.46; 95% CI: 0.32–0.66). Conclusions: Children benefit from their fathers' involvement in early childcare activities. To improve a child's well‐being, fathers should be encouraged by providing them with a suitable working environment with flexible arrangements and the opportunity to involve in childcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the physiological regulation of vagal tone during dyadic and triadic parent‐infant interactions in infants born before or around the COVID‐19 lockdown in Switzerland. We hypothesized that there would be a decrease in vagal tone in triadic interactions compared with dyadic interactions, as triadic interactions are more complex and therefore more resource demanding. However, we expected this difference to be smaller for infants who experienced the period of confinement, as the lockdown led parents to spend more time at home. We also hypothesized that parents would have less stressful interactional events in the triadic interaction because they would be used to interacting with the child together. This study included 36 parents with their 3 month‐old infants. Eighteen families met the study authors before the onset of the pandemic (pre‐COVID) and 18 met them after its onset, having experienced a period of confinement during the infants' first 3 months of life (COVID). Results showed that the COVID group had no decrease in vagal tone during triadic interactions, whereas the pre‐COVID group did. This difference could not, however, be explained by less stressful interactional events in triadic interactions, as the COVID group showed more stressful interactional events in mother‐father‐infant interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and aim. The paternal attachment can affect the academic, social and emotional development of the child in the future. The study was conducted in a descriptive-cross-sectional design to determine the impacts of some characteristics of fathers on paternal attachment. Material and method. The study was conducted with 278 fathers who had 3-12 months old infants. The data were collected by using the "Father Information Form" and the "Postnatal Paternal-Infant Attachment Questionnaire (PPAQ)". Results. It was found in the present that the mean PPAQ score of the fathers who were exposed to domestic violence in their childhood was significantly lower than those who were not (p=0.001). The mean PPAQ score of the fathers whose infant was born by cesarean section (p=0.017) and who had physical contact for the first 24 hours (p=0.047) was found to be significantly higher. The mean PPAQ score was significantly higher in fathers who had a physical contact duration of 7 hours or more than those with less physical contact durations (p=0.030). Conclusion. In this study, some characteristics of fathers were found to affect father-infant attachment. It may be recommended to plan preventive interventions for risky fathers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to determine the sociodemographic and paternal factors affecting intrauterine paternal-fetal attachment The descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with fathers whose partners were over the 24th week of their pregnancies (n=174). The fathers were applied a form regarding responsibility-taking for mother and baby and the Intrauterine Father Attachment Scale. Fathers who are young, university graduates, have spouse working, planned the pregnancy, have no other children, and state that they had a good relationship with their father, were found to have significantly higher levels of attachment to the intrauterine fetus. Fathers who are attended the prenatal classes with their spouse, state that their spouse is supportive towards them, want to accompany their spouse during childbirth, and state that the baby is both the mother and the father's responsibility after birth, were found to have significantly higher levels of attachment to the intrauterine fetus. Also, it was found that fathers who responsibility-taking for both mother and baby have a high level of attachment to the fetus (P <0.05). Considering that planned pregnancy and fathers' participation in antenatal care increases the level of attachment, health professionals have a great responsibility in terms of planning pregnancies and encouraging fathers to participate in antenatal care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Differences between child-directed speech (CDS) by women and men are generally explained by either biological-evolutionary or gender-social theories. It is difficult to tease these two explanations apart for different-sex–parent families because women are usually also the main caregivers. Thus, this study aims to examine the influence of parental sex on CDS by investigating men and women who are in same-sex–parent families. Method: Twenty same-sex–parent families participated in the study—10 families in which the parents were two men and 10 families in which the parents were two women. The families were matched for toddler age (range: 9–24 months) and sex. CDS was recorded using the Language Environment Analysis (LENA) device for 16 hr during a day. Each parent was also audio-recorded during a 30-min play session with his or her child. Results: No difference was found between men and women across all the LENA measures, namely, adult word count, conversational turns count, and child vocalization count. The analysis of speech samples during parent–child play showed no difference between men and women in mean length of utterance and number of nouns, verbs, and adjectives. Pragmatic speech acts of initiations, responses to infants’ actions, or vocalizations were similar in both sexes. Women used more “teaching” utterances than men, and men who were main caregivers used more “teaching” utterances than men who were secondary caregivers. Across both sexes, secondary caregivers used more “requests for actions” compared to main caregivers. Conclusions: The present findings support a functional–social approach and not a biological approach for explaining the use of CDS by men and women. These findings have clinical implications on the involvement of men in early intervention programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We examined parent-toddler math talk across a variety of play materials. • Both parents and toddlers used different types of math talk across play materials. • Parent math talk related to toddler math talk. • Both parent and toddler math talk related to toddlers' math understanding. • Patterns were similar across mothers and father and English- and Spanish-speakers. Learning words for numbers, shapes, spatial relations, and magnitudes—"math talk"—relies on input from caregivers. Language interactions between caregivers and children are situated in activity contexts and likely affected by available materials. Here, we examined how play materials influence the math talk directed to and produced by young children. We video-recorded parents (mothers and fathers; English- and/or Spanish-speaking) and their 24- to 36-month-olds during play with four sets of materials, transcribed and coded types of parent and toddler math words/phrases, and assessed toddlers' understanding of number, shape, and spatial relations terms. Categories of math words varied by materials. Numeracy talk (e.g., "one," "two," "first," "second") was more frequent during interactions with a picture book and toy grocery shopping set than with a shape sorter or magnet board; the reverse held for spatial talk (e.g., "out," "bottom," "up," "circle"). Parent math talk predicted toddler math talk, and both parent and toddler math talk predicted toddlers' understanding of spatial and number words. Different materials provide unique opportunities for toddlers to learn abstract math words during interactions with caregivers, and such interactions support early math cognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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