A Review on Father-Infant Attachment: Traditional Compilation

Attachment is defined as feeling a deep emotional bond due to the need to trust primary caregivers and has an important place in developmental periods in human life. The fact that in most societies, infant care is a role attributed to the mother leads to a relatively small number of attachment studies on fathers. Over time, cultural influences and changes in social values have led to a differentiation of roles within the family and necessitated the father to take an active role in caring for the infant and meeting its needs. It develops over time with the increasing sharing between father and infant, continues throughout life, and is a process whose effects are seen throughout the child's life. In addition to the personal and psychological characteristics of the parents, the characteristics of the infant, stress factors, and support mechanisms can be effective in the formation of positive attachment between parent and infant. Considering that developing appropriate attachment behaviour is one of the key determinants of a baby's long-term development, fathers have just as important a role as mothers. Nurses have important responsibilities in guiding and encouraging fathers about attachment and fatherhood roles. In this review, the importance of fatherinfant attachment, the factors affecting the attachment process, and the development of positive attachment behaviour are discussed in line with the current literature.